established

adjective

es·​tab·​lished i-ˈsta-blisht 

1

: accepted and recognized or followed by many people

established rules/customs/traditions

2

a

: successful for a long period of time and widely known

an established author/artist

an established law firm

… people with Ph.D.s have been credentialed by established experts in their fields

—Louis Menand

b

: growing or flourishing successfully

an established plant

an established flower garden

3

of a church or religion : officially recognized and accepted by the government of a country

Some of the religious groups lasted, but at a price. Their dogma hardened, and they developed organizational structures that are mirror images of established churches.

—O. B. Hardison, Jr.

Examples of established in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For established dogwoods, check the mulch level in the fall and replenish or replace mulch to protect roots during the winter temperatures. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026

Parker was also an established acting coach, beginning that part of his career in 2000. —Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Mar. 2026

Several established gaming companies have been in retreat because of the rise of prediction markets, state crackdowns on daily fantasy and dual-currency sweepstakes and reduced effectiveness of affiliate betting links to drive sign-ups. —Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 2 Mar. 2026

My association under the umbrella of my publishing flagship newspapers was certainly key to my books getting published, since the publisher knew of my established readership of two decades. —Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing established

• established church
• established order
• pre-established

Rhymes for established

• disestablished
• preestablished
• reestablished
• stablished