wasted
/ˈweɪstɪd/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈestɪd] /ˈweɪstɪd/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈestɪd] /ˈwā-stəd How to pronounce wasted (audio)/ (ame, mw)
wasted — adjective
- wastedpositive
- more wastedcomparative
- most wastedsuperlative
1. describes time, money, effort, or other resources that produce no useful result
describes time, money, effort, or other resources that produce no useful result because they were not used in a sensible or effective way.
The six months Liam spent on the failed project felt like wasted time.
collocation: wasted + time / effort / money
Rania called the unused theatre tickets a wasted opportunity for a fun evening.
Quan deleted three apps from his phone, calling them nothing but wasted storage space.
The company's decision to close the factory meant years of worker training became wasted investment.
- productive
describes effort that achieves a useful result
- worthwhile
emphasises that the result justifies the time or cost
文法句型
wasted + noun
be/get + wasted
用法筆記
Commonly combines with nouns like time, money, effort, energy, opportunity, and talent. Can be used both before a noun (attributive) and after a linking verb (predicative).
常見錯誤
2. very drunk from alcohol or strongly affected by drugs, to the point of losing co
very drunk from alcohol or strongly affected by drugs, to the point of losing control or awareness.
Mauricio was completely wasted by midnight and could not remember where the car was parked.
informal register; collocation: completely + wasted
Pedro stumbled into the house, too wasted to take off his own shoes.
Obi's friends had to carry him home from the party because he was too wasted to walk.
After three cocktails at the wedding reception, Iris was completely wasted and started singing loudly.
- sober
not affected by alcohol or drugs
- clear-headed
mentally sharp and unaffected by substances
文法句型
be/get + wasted
用法筆記
Slang; do not use in formal or professional writing. Common intensifiers before this sense include “completely,” “totally,” and “absolutely.” Distinguish from sense 1: “My weekend was wasted” could mean either “I did nothing useful” or “I was drunk the whole time” — context determines the meaning.
常見錯誤
3. extremely thin and weak, often as a result of disease or not having enough to ea
extremely thin and weak, often as a result of disease or not having enough to eat over a long period.
Folake looked terribly wasted after her long illness and barely had the strength to stand.
predicative: be/look/seem + wasted
The stray dog was so wasted that Noa could count every rib beneath its fur.
The rescued bird looked wasted and weak, with feathers ruffled and eyes half-closed.
Léa could see the wasted body of the old horse standing motionless in the field.
文法句型
be + wasted
look/seem + wasted
用法筆記
This sense is more common in written or literary English than in everyday conversation. A more neutral alternative for everyday speech is “very thin” or “underweight.” Avoid using this sense to describe someone who is merely slim or athletic.