Showing Results for "established"

See Also:

• past tense form of establish.
• past participle of establish.

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

Established tech firms will be affected by their large investments in AI-related ventures, which may struggle to generate cash and returns on the large investments.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

Established in 1970 under the Public Health Service Act, the Title X program has traditionally aimed to provide access to affordable services, including contraceptive methods, pregnancy testing, options counseling, and sexually transmitted infection testing.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

Established videogame franchises are popular adaptations, with Sony Pictures planning a live action “Legend of Zelda” for next year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Established mall retailers and department stores have struggled in recent years, with a major player like Forever 21 closing all of its locations last year.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Established by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, the League was beset with problems from the beginning.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

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