Meaning & use
sampled
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“sampled” is a form of “sample”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Took a small part or amount of something so it could be tested, examined, or tried.
Grammar: Past tense of 'sample'; it usually takes an object: they sampled the water.
Patterns
- sample something
- sample from something
The lab sampled the river water at ten different points.
She sampled three cakes before choosing one for the wedding.
verbtransitivemusic
Used small pieces of other people's music as part of a new recording.
Grammar: Takes an object, often a song or artist: the DJ sampled an old soul track.
Patterns
- sample a song
- sample an artist
The producer sampled a 1970s drum break for the chorus.
He was sued for sampling another band's guitar riff without permission.
verbtransitive
Tried a small amount of food or drink to see what it was like.
Grammar: Takes an object; often used for tasting events or menus.
Patterns
- sample a dish
- sample the wine
Guests sampled five local cheeses at the market.
We sampled the wine before buying a bottle.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Chosen and tested as a small representative part of a larger group.
Grammar: Used before a noun, as in 'sampled data' or 'a sampled group'.
Patterns
- sampled data
- a sampled population
The report is based on sampled households across the region.
Sampled students scored slightly higher than the national average.
Word forms
| base form | sample |
|---|---|
| third person singular | samples |
| present participle | sampling |
| past tense | sampled |
| past participle | sampled |
Common combinations
- randomly sampled
- The participants were randomly sampled from the whole city.
- sample a population
- Researchers sampled the population to estimate average income.
- sample the water
- Officials sampled the water for bacteria after the flood.
- sample a song
- The rapper sampled a famous jazz song on his new album.
- widely sampled
- That drumbeat has been widely sampled in hip-hop.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tested
- Focuses on checking quality or safety, while 'sampled' stresses taking a small part of something larger.
- tried
- More general and everyday for food or experiences; 'sampled' sounds slightly more formal or deliberate.
- surveyed
- Used when people or places are studied as a group, not when a physical substance is tested.
Word family
Commonly confused: sampled or sampler?
sampled vs sampler
A 'sampler' is a person or thing that samples, or a collection of examples; 'sampled' is the past form of the verb.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'sampled' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Sample' is transitive, so it takes a direct object with no preposition: sample the sauce. The other options add prepositions that the verb does not take in this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sampled”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.