# tanned

/ˈtænd/ (US) · /tˈænd/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tanned
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

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.

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

## Examples

- She looks very tanned after her summer holiday.
- He returned from his two-week trip to the coast looking healthy and deeply tanned.
- The contrast between her bright white dress and her naturally tanned skin was particularly striking under the harsh lights of the photography studio.

## Pitfalls

- Not "She is very tanning" but "She is very tanned" — Learners often confuse the present participle '-ing' (the action) with the past participle '-ed' (the resulting state).

## Usage notes

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

---

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.