# etched

/ˈɛtʃt/ (US) · /ˈɛtʃt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/etched
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

describing something that is cut or marked into a hard surface, or a memory that is very clear and impossible to forget.

For teachers: cut or carved into a hard surface; metaphorically describes a memory or image that is deeply and permanently fixed in the mind. Often used as a participial adjective following a linking verb.

## Examples

- The date was etched into the stone wall.
- The survivor's face was etched with lines of worry after years of living in a conflict zone.
- The traumatic events of that winter remained etched in his memory, surfacing whenever he encountered the sharp, metallic scent of cold mountain air.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the preposition 'in' or 'into' when referring to memories, and 'with' when describing a surface covered in lines.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.