Meaning & use
charted
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“charted” is a form of “chart”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Made a map or diagram of an area, especially at sea, or recorded information in a chart.
Grammar: Takes an object: they charted the coast. This is the past simple and past participle form.
Patterns
- chart something
- chart an area
- be charted by someone
Early sailors charted the coastline before any roads were built.
The team charted the river's depth at fifty points along its course.
These waters were charted by Portuguese explorers in the sixteenth century.
verbtransitive
Followed or recorded how something changes over time, such as progress, growth, or a trend.
Grammar: Takes an object, often an abstract noun: chart the progress, chart the rise.
Patterns
- chart the progress of something
- chart a rise in something
- chart someone's career
The study charted the rise in online shopping over ten years.
Her diary charted the slow recovery of the town after the flood.
Analysts have charted a steady decline in print sales.
verbtransitive
Planned or decided the direction of a course of action.
Grammar: Often used with course or path: chart a course, chart a path.
Patterns
- chart a course
- chart a path
- chart a new direction
The new director charted a bold course for the company.
After the crisis, the government charted a path toward recovery.
They charted a fresh direction for the research group.
adjectivebefore a noun
Shown on a map or recorded on a chart; also used figuratively for something already known or explored.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: charted waters, charted territory. It is not usually gradable.
Patterns
- charted waters
- charted territory
- a charted course
The captain kept the ship in charted waters near the shore.
For the experienced teacher, this kind of problem is charted territory.
We are moving into charted waters, so the risk is low.
Word forms
| base form | chart |
|---|---|
| third person singular | charts |
| past tense | charted |
| past participle | charted |
| -ing form | charting |
Common combinations
- charted waters
- After years of experience, she was sailing in charted waters.
- charted territory
- The new law takes us into charted territory for the courts.
- chart a course
- The committee charted a course for the next five years.
- charted the progress
- The teacher charted the progress of every student.
- charted the rise
- The report charted the rise of remote work.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mapped
- Mapped is more literal and usually means making a map of land or features, while charted is common for seas and for data or trends.
- recorded
- Recorded simply means written down or stored; charted suggests showing change over time in a chart or graph.
- planned
- Planned fits the sense of deciding a course of action, but it does not carry the idea of drawing or following a chart.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: charted or chartered? charted or charged?
charted vs chartered
Chartered means officially licensed or hired, as in a chartered accountant or chartered plane. Charted is the past form of chart.
charted vs charged
Charged means accused, filled, or asked for payment. It sounds similar to charted but has no connection with maps or charts.
Practice
Which sentence uses "charted" correctly?
Choose one answer.
Chart is transitive and takes a direct object, so "charted a new course" is correct. The other options add a preposition or passive structure that the verb does not take in this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “charted”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.