verb Uncommon

penned

pehnd

Penned (verb) means Wrote or composed something, especially using a pen; past tense of "pen". Example: “She penned a heartfelt letter to her old friend.”

verb

Wrote or composed something, especially using a pen; past tense of "pen".

"She penned a heartfelt letter to her old friend."

"The songwriter penned three hit singles that year."

Shut an animal into an enclosure; past tense of "pen" (the enclosure sense).

"The farmer penned the sheep before the storm hit."

adj

Having wings or plumage; winged (a rare, mostly literary use).

"The poem describes penned creatures soaring above the clouds."

How to use penned

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually just means "wrote" (as in penned a novel) or "shut in a pen" (as in penned the cattle) — context tells you which.

Common pairings

penned a letter penned an article penned in

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Can you complete this real example?

She _____ a heartfelt letter to her old friend.

Frequently asked questions

What does “penned” mean?

The word “penned” means wrote or composed something, especially using a pen; past tense of "pen". In plain terms, usually just means "wrote" (as in penned a novel) or "shut in a pen" (as in penned the cattle) — context tells you which.

How do you pronounce “penned”?

“Penned” is pronounced pehnd (/pɛnd/ in IPA).

How do you use “penned” in a sentence?

Here is “penned” used in a sentence: “She penned a heartfelt letter to her old friend.”

What part of speech is “penned”?

Depending on how it is used, “penned” can be a verb and an adjective.

Is “penned” a common word?

“Penned” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “penned” have?

“Penned” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: wrote or composed something, especially using a pen; past tense of "pen".