adjective
Common
cooked
kuukt
Cooked (adjective) means Prepared by the application of heat. Example: “The chicken was not properly cooked in the middle, so we sent it back.”
adjective
1
Prepared by the application of heat.
"The chicken was not properly cooked in the middle, so we sent it back."
"She served a perfectly cooked steak with roasted vegetables."
"The rice was fully cooked after fifteen minutes."
2
(informal) Faked, manipulated, or fraudulently altered.
"The inspector discovered that the factory had cooked its safety records for years."
"Investors sued after learning the company had cooked its books."
"The evidence looked cooked to fit the detective's theory."
3
(informal) In serious trouble, or completely finished; done for.
"If we miss this last train home, we are totally cooked."
"If the boss finds out about this, we're cooked."
"The team is cooked after losing three starters to injury."
4
(slang) Drunk, high, or otherwise intoxicated.
"By midnight half the guests were completely cooked and singing loudly."
"I felt cooked after only two drinks on an empty stomach."
"He was too cooked to drive home from the party."
How to use cooked
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFinished by heat when it means food, but in slang it can mean fabricated, doomed, or drunk depending on context.
Common mistake
Context matters a lot here — "the books were cooked" is fraud, "he's cooked" can mean exhausted, doomed, or drunk. Don't mix registers in formal writing.
Common pairings
cook the books
we're cooked
fully cooked
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more cooked
- Superlative
- most cooked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The chicken was not properly _____ in the middle, so we sent it back.
Etymology
Simply the past participle of the verb cook, extended over time into an adjective for anything "done" — whether that's food, a person's prospects, or someone's sobriety.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cooked
smoked
choked
hooked
looked
stoked
crooked
spooked
stroked
overcooked
unprovoked
overlooked
overbooked
See all rhymes for cooked →
Frequently asked questions
What does “cooked” mean?
The word “cooked” means prepared by the application of heat. In plain terms, finished by heat when it means food, but in slang it can mean fabricated, doomed, or drunk depending on context.
How do you pronounce “cooked”?
“Cooked” is pronounced kuukt (/kʊkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “cooked” in a sentence?
Here is “cooked” used in a sentence: “She served a perfectly cooked steak with roasted vegetables.”
What part of speech is “cooked”?
“Cooked” is an adjective.
Is “cooked” a common word?
“Cooked” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cooked” have?
“Cooked” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: prepared by the application of heat.
What is the difference between "cooked" and "baked"?
"Cooked" is the general term for food prepared by heat using any method, while "baked" specifically means cooked with dry heat in an oven. All baked food is cooked, but not all cooked food is baked.
What is the difference between "cooked" and "raw"?
"Cooked" describes food prepared by heat, while "raw" means uncooked and in its natural state. In the context of food they are direct opposites.
What is the difference between "cooked" and "overcooked"?
"Cooked" means simply prepared by heat and ready to eat, while "overcooked" means cooked too long, so the food turns dry, tough, or burnt. Food can be properly cooked without being overcooked.
