ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tanned

adj.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈtænd// UK //tˈænd// tanned

adj. having skin that has turned darker because you spent time in the sun. It describes a healthy-looking brown color people get after a holiday.

adj. having skin darkened by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, typically from sunlight or a sunlamp. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'look' or 'become'.


SIMPLE

She looks very tanned after her summer holiday.

CONTEXTUAL

He returned from his two-week trip to the coast looking healthy and deeply tanned.

COMPLEX

The contrast between her bright white dress and her naturally tanned skin was particularly striking under the harsh lights of the photography studio.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Participial adjective; often follows linking verbs or appears before a noun.

Pitfall

She is very tanningShe is very tannedLearners often confuse the present participle '-ing' (the action) with the past participle '-ed' (the resulting state).

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