Meaning & use
arched
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Having a rounded, curved top or shape, like a bow or the top of a doorway.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: an arched window; it can also follow a verb: the roof was arched.
Patterns
- an arched doorway
- an arched bridge
We walked through an arched passage into the courtyard.
The cathedral has tall arched windows that fill the nave with light.
A small arched bridge crossed the stream behind the cottage.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Bent or curved something, especially a part of the body, into a rounded shape.
Grammar: Past tense of arch: she arched her back (with an object); the cat arched (without one).
Patterns
- arch your back
- arch an eyebrow
The cat arched its back and hissed at the dog.
She arched one eyebrow in disbelief.
The dancer arched gracefully and then stood up straight.
verbintransitive
Formed a curved line while passing over or through the air or a space.
Grammar: No object, usually followed by a preposition: the ball arched over the fence.
Patterns
- arch over something
The ball arched high over the fence and landed in the garden.
A rainbow arched across the valley after the storm.
Tall oaks arched over the lane, making a green tunnel.
Word forms
| base form | arch |
|---|---|
| third person singular | arches |
| -ing form | arching |
Common combinations
- arched eyebrow
- He gave her an arched eyebrow when she said she'd finished already.
- arched doorway
- The kitchen is reached through an arched doorway.
- arched window
- Light poured through the arched window.
- arched back
- The cat sat with its back arched, ready to spring.
- arched bridge
- We took a photo on the old arched bridge.
- arched ceiling
- The station has a high arched ceiling of glass.
Synonyms and how they differ
- curved
- Curved is a general word for any bend, while arched means the curve is specifically like a rainbow or doorway top.
- bowed
- Bowed suggests a bend under weight or pressure, such as a bowed shelf, whereas arched is usually deliberate or designed.
- vaulted
- Vaulted describes a ceiling or roof made of arches, so it is more architectural than arched.
- rounded
- Rounded means smoothly curved with no sharp edges, but it need not form an arch.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: arched or arc?
arched vs arc
An arc is a curved line or path, as in the arc of a ball, while arch is a curved structure or the act of bending into a curve.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'arched' correctly as a verb?
Choose one answer.
To arch means to bend into a curve, and a cat can arch its back. The other options pair arched with objects or time expressions that cannot be curved.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “arched”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.