infect
verb (used with object)
to affect or contaminate (a person, organ, wound, etc.) with disease-producing germs.
had infected
-
past perfectof infect.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Laboratory testing confirmed the disease had infected a greater crested tern in the town of Robe, South Australia.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Investigators eventually suspected that the bacteria were airborne and had infected people after contaminating the air conditioning system at the convention hotel.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
Around the country, it had infected 36,000 people in three months, killing more than 600, many of them babies.
From Salon ● Dec. 16, 2025
It was looking even more likely that the dentist had infected a whole group of people who’d passed through his office.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2025
By this time the craze for Internet stocks was completely out of control and had infected the Stanford University medical community.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
