established
- 1Known and accepted, often because it has existed or been used for a long time.
Like an old tree that everyone knows because it has stood there for years.
The bakery is an established business that has served the town for fifty years.
Voters tend to trust established political parties over newcomers.
UsagePeople often say well-established or long-established.
- 2Simple past and past participle of establish. Use this form for something that was set up or proven earlier.
They established a new school in the village last year.
She established her business after years of saving.
UsageYou can say it was established that something is true, meaning it was proved.
- 3Officially recognized by a government as the religion or church of its country or region.
Like the official language a country picks for all its laws and schools.
In some countries the established religion is taught in all public schools.
England has an established church, the Church of England.
UsageMostly in established church and established religion.
Note
Less common meaning
- 4Belonging to the powerful groups that control a society or its economy.
Like the older kids who have always decided the rules of the game.
The established families in town owned most of the land.
Only people from established families were asked to join the club.
Similarruling, dominant, privileged
Showing meanings only.
established is a form of establish
establish, verb: To start something new, like a company, group, or system, and make it last. Full entry
- Forms
- establishestablishes he/she/itestablishing -ing formestablished past tense, past participle
- Spelling
- establish → established: add -ed
- Sound
- The ending sounds like /t/.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of established apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.