English Reference
adjective · verb

deserted

adj. · v.
US /dɪˈzɝtɪd/ UK /dɪzˈɜːtɪd/ de·sert·ed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.empty of people and feeling quiet or lonely.

    adj.describing a place that is uninhabited or abandoned by people.

    Simple

    The streets were completely deserted after the heavy snow started falling.

    In context

    They wandered through the deserted village, where the only sound was the wind whistling through the broken window frames of the old cottages.

    Usage

    Usually describes streets, buildings, or landscapes.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.left someone or something behind when you should have stayed.

    v.the past tense of 'desert', meaning to leave a person, post, or obligation without permission.

    Simple

    He felt like his friends had deserted him when he needed help.

    In context

    The soldier was accused of having deserted his post during the height of the battle, a charge that carried severe consequences.

    Usage

    Often used in a military context or regarding personal relationships.

One was Thomas Sullivan , a sergeant in the British Army who deserted to serve under patriot Major General Nathanael Greene .

Smithsonian Magazine· 1 Jul 2026

Over the next couple of hours, we visited several now-vacant housing units, walking through deserted old cells and common areas.

Smithsonian Magazine· 10 Jun 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated