Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

past participle

noun

Definition of past participle

: a participle that typically expresses completed action, that is traditionally one of the principal parts of the verb, and that is traditionally used in English in the formation of perfect tenses in the active voice and of all tenses in the passive voice

See past participle defined for English-language learners

See past participle defined for kids

Examples of past participle in a Sentence

  1. The verbs “thrown” in “the ball has been thrown” and “raised” in “many hands were raised” are past participles.

Recent Examples of past participle from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'past participle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of past participle

1798

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

PAST PARTICIPLE Defined for English Language Learners

past participle

noun

Definition of past participle for English Language Learners

  • grammar : the form of the verb that is used with “have” in perfect tenses and with “be” in passive constructions

PAST PARTICIPLE Defined for Kids

past participle

noun

Definition of past participle for Students

: a word that expresses completed action and is one of the principal parts of a verb
  • The words “raised” in “many hands were raised” and “thrown” in “the ball has been thrown” are past participles.

Learn More about past participle

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of past participle Nglish: Translation of past participle for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up past participle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

skirl

play

to emit the high shrill tone of bagpipes

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

past participle

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Bee Cubed

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games