participle
Other forms: participles
A participle is a verb that acts like an adjective, like a running leap, scorned lover, or boiled egg.
This is a technical word that will come up when you're studying grammar or linguistics. From a Greek root meaning “partaker,” a participle wants to partake of both the verb and adjective worlds. If you said, "I need a running start!" before a race, running is a participle. If you notice a trapped bear, trapped is the participle. This is a word that is a little confusing to understand, even though you use participles all the time.
Definitions of participle
-
a non-finite form of the verb; in English it is used adjectivally and to form compound tenses
-
synonyms:
participial
-
types:
-
present participle
a participle expressing present action; in English is formed by adding -ing
-
past participle, perfect participle
a participle that expresses completed action
-
type of:
-
verb
the word class that serves as the predicate of a sentence
-
present participle
Pronunciation
US
/ˌpɑrdəˈsɪpəl/
UK
/pɑˈtɪsɪpəl/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘participle'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
Word Family
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Look up participle for the last time
Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.
