burnt
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for burnt, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Damaged, charred, or destroyed by fire or excessive heat.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English brent, brynt; by surface analysis, burn + t.
Full origin of burnt →Frequently asked questions
What does “burnt” mean?
The word “burnt” means damaged, charred, or destroyed by fire or excessive heat. In plain terms, damaged by fire or heat — the British-English preferred form of "burned," especially as an adjective before a noun.
How do you pronounce “burnt”?
“Burnt” is pronounced burnt (/bɝnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “burnt” in a sentence?
Here is “burnt” used in a sentence: “She scraped the burnt bits off the toast.”
What part of speech is “burnt”?
“Burnt” is an adjective.
Is “burnt” a common word?
“Burnt” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “burnt” have?
“Burnt” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: damaged, charred, or destroyed by fire or excessive heat.
What is the difference between "burnt" and "burned"?
Both are correct past-tense and past-participle forms of the verb "burn." "Burned" is the standard choice in American English, while "burnt" is more common in British English, especially as an adjective. Even in American English, "burnt" is widely used before a noun, as in "burnt toast" or "burnt orange."
When should you use "burnt" as an adjective?
Use "burnt" before a noun to describe something damaged or charred by fire or excessive heat, such as "burnt food" or "a burnt smell." It can also describe sunburnt skin. As a verb form, American English generally prefers "burned," as in "she burned the letter."
Is it "burnt out" or "burned out"?
Both spellings are acceptable and follow the usual split: British English favors "burnt out" and American English "burned out." The phrase describes something destroyed by fire, such as a burnt-out car, or a person exhausted by prolonged stress. The related noun is always spelled "burnout."