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Meaning & use

seasoned

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈsiːznd/
US/ˈsiːznd/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a nounapproving

    Having a lot of experience in a particular activity, and therefore skilled at it.

    Grammar: Usually before a noun: a seasoned traveler.

    Patterns

    • a seasoned professional

    The seasoned pilot stayed calm when the engine failed.

    She is a seasoned negotiator with twenty years on the job.

    The team relied on seasoned players in the final.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Of food, flavored with salt, herbs or spices.

    Grammar: Used after a verb or before a noun: well seasoned, seasoned chicken.

    Patterns

    • well seasoned
    • seasoned with something

    The soup was well seasoned with pepper and thyme.

    She served seasoned rice with grilled fish.

    The seasoned fries had a smoky taste.

  3. adjectivebefore a nounspecialist

    Of wood, dried for a long time so that it will not bend or crack.

    Grammar: Used for timber: seasoned oak.

    The carpenter prefers seasoned oak for furniture.

    Seasoned logs burn longer.

Word forms

comparativemore seasoned
superlativemost seasoned

Common combinations

seasoned veteran
A seasoned veteran led the climb.
seasoned traveler
As a seasoned traveler, she packs lightly.
seasoned professional
The firm hired a seasoned professional.
well seasoned
The stew was well seasoned.
seasoned with
The fish was seasoned with lemon and herbs.
seasoned timber
Seasoned timber resists warping.

Synonyms and how they differ

experienced
Experienced is the plain term, while seasoned suggests experience gained through years of hard conditions.
veteran
Veteran stresses long service, while seasoned stresses skill.
practiced
Practiced suggests skill from repetition, while seasoned suggests toughened experience.
flavored
Flavored covers any added taste, while seasoned refers to salt, herbs or spices.

Opposites

inexperiencedgreen

Word family

season verb
to add flavor to food, or to dry wood
seasoning noun
salt, herbs or spices added to food
seasonal adjective
happening in a particular season
unseasoned adjective
without added flavor, or without experience

Commonly confused: seasoned or seasonal?

seasoned vs seasonal

Seasonal means connected with a time of year; seasoned means experienced or flavored.

Practice

The company hired a ____ manager who had led dozens of similar projects.

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