# written

/ˈɹɪtən/ (US) · /ɹˈɪtən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. past participle of write

verb · CEFR A1

the form of 'write' used after 'have' or 'be'.

For teachers: the past participle of the irregular verb 'write', used to form the present perfect, past perfect, and passive voice.

- She has written several books about her travels in Asia.
- By the time the editor arrived, the journalist had already written the lead story and was beginning the final draft of the editorial.

### 2. in the form of text

adjective · CEFR A2

expressed in writing rather than spoken.

For teachers: existing in a physical or digital textual format; often contrasted with oral or verbal communication.

- The teacher asked for a written excuse for his absence.
- The contract requires a written notice of termination at least thirty days prior to the end of the fiscal year.

### 3. formal/legal rules

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

official rules or laws that are recorded in a document.

For teachers: formally documented or codified, especially in a legal or institutional context.

- The company has a written policy against using phones during meetings.
- The judge noted that while the agreement was understood by both parties, it lacked the weight of a written statute.

## Examples

- I have written a letter to my friend.
- By the time the teacher arrived, the students had already written the answers on the board.
- The report was written by a team of experts who spent several months gathering data from various international sources to ensure the findings were accurate.

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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.