established

American  

[ih-stab-lisht] / ɪˈstæb lɪʃt /

adjective

1. founded, built, or brought into existence.

   The organization is getting ready to announce the first recipient of a newly established award recognizing outstanding service to the community.

2. settled or installed relatively permanently in a position, place, business, etc..

   The resort is a long established vacation destination with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality personal service to their guests.

3. proven valid or true.

   Knowledge about the venom of the spider that bit her is sparse, and there is no established treatment for it.

4. accepted or recognized.

   More recent research, however, contradicts the established narrative.

   Experimental psychology is an established field with a long history of research involving humans.

5. firm or settled in habit or condition.

   Her established dislike of poetry meant she rarely received it for review.

6. brought about, appointed, enacted, or ordained.

   Requirements include being covered by federally established health insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of establish.

Other Word Forms

• quasi-established adjective

Etymology

Origin of established

First recorded in 1350–1400; establish ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; establish ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Explanation

Something or someone well established is well known, totally trusted and usually has a proven track record of success. Becoming established doesn't happen overnight. You've got to put in the time and effort to prove yourself, make connections and build a good reputation. So it makes sense that this adjective is related to the verb establish, which means to "create, set up, or prove." Established is a handy word to know, especially when you're looking for a dentist — you probably won't want to try Dr. Lovedrill until his practice is more established.

Example Sentences

Last year it was revealed LIV's net losses in its international markets outside the US had spiralled to $461.8m in 2024, meaning it had lost more than $1.1bn since it was established in 2021.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Not much different than it was in 1792, when 24 brokers established the precursor to the New York Stock Exchange, selling shares of shipping and insurance concerns to the city’s leading citizens.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

He established a training school for public officials—Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti School of Governance—that is shaping a new generation of Iran’s political leaders under the oversight of the Revolutionary Guard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Others — often referred to as “me too” drugs — are chemically or mechanistically similar to existing therapies, designed to compete within established categories rather than to open new frontiers.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

And so was established the pattern our lives were to follow for over twenty years.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• chartered
• completed
• founded
• incorporated
• initiated
• organized
• ratified
• set up
• settled