marked
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
very easy to notice or see.
clearly evident, conspicuous, or noticeable in degree or intensity.
Simple“There has been a marked improvement in your English since you started this course.”
In context“The researchers observed a marked difference in the results between the control group and those receiving the new treatment.”
SynonymsAntonymsslightimperceptible - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
having a visible sign, label, or stain on the surface.
bearing a visible or identifying mark, label, or physical blemish.
Simple“The boxes were clearly marked with the word 'Fragile' in red ink.”
In context“The surveyor followed the trail of marked trees to determine the exact boundary of the private estate.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
a word or sound that is more complex or unusual than the basic form.
distinguished from the base or neutral form by a specific feature, such as a suffix or a particular sound.
Simple“In English, the plural 'cats' is marked by the letter 's', while the singular 'cat' is not.”
In context“The linguist argued that the feminine form is often the marked member of the pair in many Indo-European languages.”
UsageUsed to contrast a complex form with a simpler, 'unmarked' default form.
Antonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
a police car that has official signs and lights on it.
referring to a vehicle, typically for law enforcement, that displays official livery and identification.
Simple“A marked police car was parked outside the bank to deter any trouble.”
In context“The suspect failed to notice the unmarked vehicle following him, assuming only marked cruisers posed a threat to his escape.”
Antonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
singled out for bad treatment or watched closely by enemies.
singled out as a target for suspicion, hostility, or vengeance.
Simple“After he spoke to the police, he knew he was a marked man in his neighborhood.”
In context“Having betrayed the cartel, the informant lived the rest of his life as a marked man, constantly moving to avoid detection.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'a marked man'.
Usage marked the first · marked challenge · marked change
“She recently marked her birthday with a meal of her favourite food of Cornish sardines.”
“It marked his first face-to-face meeting with Charles since September 2025.”
From mark (“sign, characteristic, visible impression”) + -ed. Less common disyllabic pronunciation (/ˈmɑː.kɪd/) is likely an analogy derived from markedness (explaining its restriction to sense 2).
From mark (verb senses) + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.