adjective
Common
contracted
kuhn-TRAK-tihd
Contracted (adjective) means Set up through a formal agreement. Example: “The contracted builders promised to finish the roof before winter arrived.”
adjective
1
Set up through a formal agreement.
"The contracted builders promised to finish the roof before winter arrived."
"Contracted drivers deliver the parcels, and they follow a strict timetable."
"The contracted cleaning staff arrive every evening at six."
2
Made smaller or shorter; shrunk.
"The contracted metal cooled and shrank until it fitted tightly into the hole."
"Her contracted pupils showed how bright the sunlight was."
"His contracted muscles finally relaxed after the massage."
How to use contracted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither bound by a contract, or shrunk/tightened.
Common pairings
contracted worker
contracted muscle
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more contracted
- Superlative
- most contracted
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The _____ builders promised to finish the roof before winter arrived.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
expanded
Related words
Rhymes for contracted
See all rhymes for contracted →Frequently asked questions
What does “contracted” mean?
The word “contracted” means set up through a formal agreement. In plain terms, either bound by a contract, or shrunk/tightened.
How do you pronounce “contracted”?
“Contracted” is pronounced kuhn-TRAK-tihd (/kənˈtɹæktɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “contracted” in a sentence?
Here is “contracted” used in a sentence: “The contracted cleaning staff arrive every evening at six.”
What part of speech is “contracted”?
“Contracted” is an adjective.
Is “contracted” a common word?
“Contracted” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “contracted” have?
“Contracted” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: set up through a formal agreement.
What is the difference between 'contracted' and 'contractual'?
Contracted usually describes something arranged or agreed through a contract, as in contracted work, or the act of shrinking. Contractual describes anything relating to a contract or its terms, as in contractual obligations. In short, contracted often points to the result or action, while contractual refers to the nature of the terms.
What is the difference between 'contracted' and 'expanded'?
In the sense of changing size, contracted means made smaller, shorter, or drawn together, while expanded means made larger or spread out. Muscles, metals, and markets can all be described as contracted when they shrink and expanded when they grow.
How is 'contracted' used to talk about catching an illness?
As a form of the verb contract, to have contracted an illness means to have caught or become infected with it, as in she contracted the flu. This use is unrelated to contracts or shrinking and simply means to fall ill with a particular disease.
What is the difference between 'contracted' and 'shortened' when talking about words?
In grammar, a contracted form is a word shortened by omitting sounds or letters and often joined with an apostrophe, such as don't for do not. Shortened is more general and includes abbreviations and clippings that need not use an apostrophe or combine two words.
