verb
Common
claimed
klaymd
Claimed (verb) means past tense and past participle of claim: stated something as true without providing proof, especially something others doubt. Example: “He claimed he had never seen the email.”
verb
1
Past tense and past participle of claim: stated something as true without providing proof, especially something others doubt.
"He claimed he had never seen the email."
"The company claimed its figures were independently audited."
"The shop claimed the parcel had been delivered, but nobody at home saw it."
2
chiefly journalism Of a disaster, illness or accident: caused the death of.
"The flooding claimed eleven lives."
"A road accident claimed the lives of several passengers on the motorway."
"The illness claimed her grandfather last winter after a long struggle."
adjective
1
Formally taken or asserted as one's own or one's right — of property, prizes, benefits or territory.
"Unclaimed baggage is held for ninety days; claimed items are released the same day."
"She claimed the reward within an hour of the announcement."
"The claimed land was marked out with wooden posts along each edge."
How to use claimed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSaid something was true, or took something that was yours to take.
When to use it
Neutral, but in reported speech claimed carries a note of scepticism that said does not.
Memory tip
Claim to takes a verb (claimed to know him); claim that takes a clause (claimed that he knew him). Both are correct; mixing them is not.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
claimed responsibility
claimed the title
claimed to be
she claimed that
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ he had never seen the email.
Etymology
From Old French clamer 'to call, cry out', from Latin clamare 'to shout'.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for claimed
See all rhymes for claimed →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between claimed and alleged?
Claimed reports what a person actually said, whoever they are. Alleged is narrower and more legal, usually attaching to an accusation against someone that has not been proved. A defendant claimed he was elsewhere; the alleged offence took place at noon.
Does saying someone claimed something imply they are lying?
It implies doubt rather than lying. Journalists use claimed to attribute a statement while signalling that it is unverified, which is why saying said is more neutral and claimed can feel loaded.
Is claimed used for winning things?
Yes, especially in sports writing — a team claimed the title, a runner claimed second place. Here it carries no doubt at all and simply means took or won.
What is the meaning of claimed?
"claimed" (verb) means past tense and past participle of claim: stated something as true without providing proof, especially something others doubt.
