Meaning & use
posted
Last updated
“posted” is a form of “post”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Put a message, picture, or comment online where others can see it.
Grammar: Takes an object (posted a photo) or stands alone (she posted yesterday).
Patterns
- post something on something
- post about something
She posted the vacation photos on her blog last night.
He posted a short reply under the video.
I haven't posted anything for weeks.
verbtransitiveBritish
Sent by mail, by putting a letter or parcel into a mailbox or handing it to a postal service.
Grammar: Takes an object; British English often uses post where American English uses mail.
Patterns
- post something to someone
- post someone something
I posted the birthday card to my aunt on Monday.
They posted the signed forms back in the prepaid envelope.
Have you posted that parcel yet?
verbtransitive
Attached to a wall or board so that people can read it, or sent to work in a particular place.
Grammar: Often passive: was posted to Berlin; the results were posted on the door.
Patterns
- be posted to somewhere
- post something on something
The exam results were posted outside the main office.
After training, the officer was posted to a station on the coast.
Guards were posted at every entrance to the stadium.
Word forms
| base form | post |
|---|---|
| third person singular | posts |
| past tense | posted |
| -ing form | posting |
Common combinations
- posted a comment
- Several readers posted a comment under the article.
- posted online
- The schedule has been posted online.
- posted notice
- The landlord posted notice of the repairs in the hallway.
- keep someone posted
- Keep me posted about the test results.
- posted overseas
- His parents were posted overseas when he was a child.
- posted bail
- The defendant posted bail and walked free that afternoon.
Synonyms and how they differ
- published
- Published suggests a formal release by an organization, while posted is casual and usually means putting something on a site.
- mailed
- Mailed is the standard American word for sending by post, while posted is more typical in British English.
- stationed
- Stationed is used mainly for troops or officials sent to a base, whereas posted can apply to any job assignment.
- displayed
- Displayed means shown for people to see, but it does not say how it got there as posted does.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: posted or positioned?
posted vs positioned
Positioned means placed in a particular spot, but it does not mean sent by mail or published online.
Practice
The soldier was ___ to a remote base in the north for a year.
Choose one answer.
Posted fits because it means sent to a place for duty. Mailed is tempting, but a person is not sent by mail.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “posted”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.