written

American  

[rit-n] / ˈrɪt n /

verb

1. a past participle of write.

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adjective

1. expressed in writing (distinguished from spoken).

written British  

/ ˈrɪtən /

verb

1. the past participle of write

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adjective

1. taken down in writing; transcribed Compare spoken

   written evidence

   the written word

Other Word Forms

• half-written
  adjective
• prewritten
  adjective
• self-written
  adjective
• well-written
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of written

First recorded before 1000, for the adjective

Compare meaning

How does written compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• written vs. wrote

Example Sentences

Written in 17th‑century French, the AI creation will hit the stage at the Royal Opera of Versailles on Tuesday and Wednesday.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Walking from the dressing room to the pitch, the 37-year-old performed some of his biggest hits including Written In The Stars and Pass Out.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

Written and directed by “Run Hide Fight” filmmaker Kyle Rankin, the movie is described as “in the vein of ’80s and ’90s action movies ‘Red Dawn’ and ‘Toy Soldiers,’ ” per the outlet.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

Written performance reviews can be important, but there is often a conversational component to reviews.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

Written in grease pencil on the acetate surface of the chart were columns and rows of numbers—the numbers of American and enemy troops killed or wounded in battle.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• drafted
• penned
• recorded
• reported