Skip to main content
written

written

243 1.0
Made as words on paper or a screen rather than spoken
  • adjective
  • /ˈrɪtən/
: escrito
  • All the instructions need to be written down to avoid confusion.

I said it's a cashier's check written from your bank.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • That theme song was written by the same Chuck Lorre.

  • It's a genius movie written by Stephen Sondheim.

  • So I have all the questions written on my phone.

  • Obviously it's based on a novel written by your uncle.

  • A critical point was a book written by Louis Brandeis.

  • It's called A First Course in Abstract Algebra written by John B Frilly.

  • I want to read Pride and Prejudice, written by Emma Wong.

  • The Written Torah is the part commonly known as the Bible—the Five Books of Moses, prophets, psalms, etc.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The report must be written in clear and simple language.

  • She has a written agreement confirming their arrangement.

Synonyms

in writing
vswritten
101 2.6

Someone writes it on paper or in a document instead of saying it

is the adjective form meaning the same idea not speech or improvisation
scripted
vswritten
42 3.7

Written in advance rather than made up while speaking or acting

is broader meaning any prepared or recorded text beyond performances
handwritten
vswritten
42 2.8

Made by using a pen instead of typing or printing

is the general term for text regardless of production method
typewritten
vswritten
  • Archaic
4 3.5

Written on a typewriter rather than by hand

is a broader label for text whatever the production tool
penciled
vswritten
  • US
3 1.3

Written or drawn with a tool that leaves grey marks on paper

is broader covering any recorded text not limited to pencil marks

Antonyms

124 1.0

Said aloud rather than written

21 4.6

Not officially recorded but accepted and followed by people

Idioms

26 5.8

Very easy to see because a feeling or quality shows on someone's face

A strong feeling you can clearly see on someone's face

To show clearly that something is typical of a person or made by them

A face that clearly shows success and happiness

Compounds

A document that gives information or findings after someone studies a topic

18 3.2

Words shown with letters on a page or screen instead of spoken

A paper that describes events so people can read about them later

A document that keeps proof of facts or events

A piece of work where you write about a topic for school

A way of showing words using letters or characters instead of speech

5 2.7

A document that writes down what two or more people agree to

written material
  • Literature
5 2.3

Text created by a person, like a book or letter

5 2.5

A formal paper that gives information or records facts

4 2.0

Words put on paper or saved in a file, not spoken

To share information by writing, for example in letters or emails

A written mark, like a letter, that stands for a sound or idea

Text to be printed or published without pictures

How Official

statutory
  • Formal
62 6.8
codified
  • Formal
3 6.7
written
243 1.0
unwritten
21 4.6
accepted
64 1.3
customary
64 3.5

Surface Forms

written positive

Morphology

written = write (transparent) = write + en

The word 'written' is a standard past participle form of 'write', which is clear and follows regular English morphological rules.

Etymology

The word written comes from the old verb write, which comes from an Old English word writan meaning 'to scratch' because people long ago scratched letters into wood and stone. So written means 'recorded in writing', not spoken.