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Synonyms

rooted

American  
[roo-tid, root-id] / ˈru tɪd, ˈrʊt ɪd /

adjective

  1. having roots.

  2. firmly implanted (often used in combination).

    a deep-rooted belief.
rooted British  
/ ˈruːtɪd /

adjective

  1. having roots

  2. deeply felt

    rooted objections

  3. slang tired or defeated

  4. taboo an exclamation of contemptuous anger or annoyance, esp against another person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • multirooted adjective
  • rootedly adverb
  • rootedness noun
  • underrooted adjective
  • well-rooted adjective

Etymology

Origin of rooted

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English roted; see root 1, -ed 2, -ed 3

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.

The current crisis is rooted in decades of US-Iran tensions dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution and hostage crisis.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

They are safer, in a sense: less vulnerable to factual rebuttal and more deeply rooted in personal experience.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026

The answer to that is rooted in how the championships have developed.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

The author’s distinctive storytelling is rooted in his background.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Henry speculated—probably correctly—that Bunny had got to the bottom of the box, so he rooted around in his desk and found that piece, roughly the same size, and turned it over to use the back.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.