adj
Common
eaten
EE-tn
Eaten (adj) means Consumed as food; the past participle of eat. Example: “The half-eaten apple was left on the desk all afternoon.”
adj
1
Consumed as food; the past participle of eat.
"The half-eaten apple was left on the desk all afternoon."
"Once the cake is eaten, there will be nothing left for tomorrow."
"All the sandwiches had been eaten by noon."
How to use eaten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe form of "eat" used after "have/has/had" or as an adjective describing something consumed.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more eaten
- Superlative
- most eaten
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The half-_____ apple was left on the desk all afternoon.
Etymology
From Old English eten, the past participle of etan ("to eat").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for eaten
See all rhymes for eaten →Frequently asked questions
What does “eaten” mean?
The word “eaten” means consumed as food; the past participle of eat. In plain terms, the form of "eat" used after "have/has/had" or as an adjective describing something consumed.
How do you pronounce “eaten”?
“Eaten” is pronounced EE-tn (/ˈiː.tn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “eaten” in a sentence?
Here is “eaten” used in a sentence: “All the sandwiches had been eaten by noon.”
What part of speech is “eaten”?
“Eaten” is an adjective.
Where does the word “eaten” come from?
The word “eaten” comes from Old English. From Old English eten, the past participle of etan ("to eat").
Is “eaten” a common word?
“Eaten” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "eaten" and "ate"?
"Ate" is the simple past tense of "eat" and is used on its own, as in "I ate lunch." "Eaten" is the past participle and needs a helping verb, as in "I have eaten lunch" or "the food was eaten."
Is it correct to say "I have ate" or "I have eaten"?
The correct form is "I have eaten." After "have," "has," or "had," you must use the past participle "eaten," never "ate." Saying "I have ate" is a common grammatical error.
When should you use "eaten" instead of "ate"?
Use "eaten" with a helping verb in the perfect tenses ("has eaten," "had eaten") and in the passive voice ("was eaten"). Use "ate" for the simple past when there is no helping verb, as in "she ate quickly."
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