# wasted

/ˈweɪstɪd/ (US) · /wˈeɪstɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wasted
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. not used well

adjective · CEFR B1

used for something that was lost or thrown away without being used for a good reason.

For teachers: describing a resource, effort, or period of time that has been expended without producing a useful result.

- All that food was wasted because nobody came to the party.
- The committee felt that the entire budget had been wasted on administrative overheads rather than direct community support.

Usage: Often follows the verb 'to be' or 'to go'.

### 2. drunk or high

adjective · CEFR B2 · Slang · Informal

very drunk or under the influence of drugs.

For teachers: extremely intoxicated by alcohol or drugs to the point of impaired physical or mental function.

- He got so wasted at the wedding that he couldn't remember the speeches.
- The security guards had to escort several wasted patrons out of the venue before the main act even started.

Teaching tip: This is very informal; students should avoid using it in professional or academic contexts.

### 3. thin and weak

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

looking very thin, weak, and unhealthy, often because of a long illness.

For teachers: exhibiting extreme physical emaciation or atrophy, typically as a result of chronic disease or malnutrition.

- The patient looked wasted after months of fighting the infection.
- The clinical report noted the patient's wasted appearance, suggesting a significant loss of muscle mass due to the underlying condition.

## Examples

- He got totally wasted at the party last night.
- They decided to take a taxi home because everyone was too wasted to drive safely after the concert.
- The film portrays the protagonist's downward spiral as he spends his inheritance getting wasted in various high-end clubs, eventually losing touch with his former life.

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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.