Meaning & use
trained
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Having learned a skill or job through proper teaching and practice.
Grammar: Goes before a noun or after a verb; in or as often follows: trained in first aid.
Patterns
- trained in something
- trained as something
- trained to do something
Only trained staff may use the machinery.
She is a trained nurse who volunteers on weekends.
He was trained as a pilot before joining the airline.
adjectivebefore a noun
Taught to behave in a certain way, used mostly about animals.
Grammar: Often seen before an animal noun: a trained dog, a trained falcon.
Patterns
- trained to do something
A trained guide dog led him across the busy road.
The circus featured trained seals.
Trained falcons are used to scare birds from airports.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Past tense and past participle of train: taught a person or animal a skill, or prepared yourself for a sport or event.
Grammar: With an object it means teach: she trained the staff. Without one it means practice: they trained for months.
Patterns
- train someone to do something
- train for something
The coach trained the team for six months.
He trained as an electrician in the evenings.
They trained their puppy to sit on command.
Common combinations
- highly trained
- The rescue was carried out by highly trained divers.
- professionally trained
- She is a professionally trained chef.
- trained eye
- A trained eye can spot a fake painting quickly.
- trained in
- He is trained in first aid.
- specially trained
- Specially trained dogs searched the rubble.
Synonyms and how they differ
- qualified
- It stresses that you have passed an exam or hold a certificate, while trained only says you received instruction.
- skilled
- It describes how good someone is at something, however they learned it.
- experienced
- It points to practice on the job rather than formal teaching.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: trained or trailed?
trained vs trailed
Trailed is the past form of trail, meaning to follow behind or lag, and does not involve teaching.
Practice
The clinic only employs ___ nurses who have completed a recognized course.
Choose one answer.
Trained describes people who have received instruction in a skill. The other options are different words that do not fit the context of completing a course.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “trained”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.