conducted: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Neutral
Quick answer
What does “conducted” mean?
The past tense and past participle of 'conduct,' meaning to organize, carry out, or direct an activity, process, or event.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past tense and past participle of 'conduct,' meaning to organize, carry out, or direct an activity, process, or event.
To lead or guide (people); to behave in a specified way; to allow (heat, electricity, sound) to pass along or through.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling differences follow national norms (e.g., 'centre' vs. 'center') in collocational phrases. The word 'research' is often 'conducted' in both, but slightly more frequent in American academic contexts. The phrase 'conducted oneself' is slightly more formal/literary in BrE.
Connotations
Slightly more formal and official in British English, especially for events ('orchestra conducted by...'). In American English, it can sound bureaucratic (e.g., 'conducted a review').
Frequency
High frequency in professional, academic, and technical contexts in both varieties. No significant overall frequency difference.
Grammar
How to Use “conducted” in a Sentence
[NP] conducted [NP] (e.g., We conducted a survey)[NP] was conducted by [NP] (e.g., The audit was conducted by experts)[NP] conducted itself (e.g., The army conducted itself professionally)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conducted” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The university conducted an independent enquiry.
- She conducted the choir with great passion.
- The interview was conducted via a video link.
American English
- The agency conducted a nationwide poll.
- He conducted the orchestra for the final piece.
- The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions.
adjective
British English
- The well-conducted event finished on time.
- A properly-conducted review is essential.
American English
- A poorly-conducted study yields invalid data.
- The tightly-conducted operation was a success.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board conducted a thorough review of the quarterly figures.
Academic
The longitudinal study was conducted over a ten-year period.
Everyday
They conducted a search but couldn't find the missing keys.
Technical
The material conducted electricity more efficiently than copper.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conducted”
- Incorrect: *He conducted a mistake. (Correct: He made a mistake.)
- Incorrect: *We conducted to finish the project. (Correct: We managed to finish the project.)
- Confusing 'conducted' (past action) with 'conductive' (ability to transmit).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is neutral to formal. In everyday speech, simpler verbs like 'did', 'ran', or 'held' are often used instead (e.g., 'We did a survey' vs. 'We conducted a survey').
They are often synonyms. 'Conducted' can imply more active leadership, organization, or direction (e.g., conducting an orchestra), while 'carried out' can emphasise completion of a task or plan.
Yes, but only reflexively: 'He conducted himself with dignity.' You cannot say 'He conducted a good behaviour.'
It is almost always 'research WAS conducted' because 'research' is typically an uncountable noun. Only with the rare countable plural form ('researches') would you use 'were'.
The past tense and past participle of 'conduct,' meaning to organize, carry out, or direct an activity, process, or event.
Conducted: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈdʌktɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈdʌktɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “well-conducted”
- “poorly-conducted”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CONDUCTOR leading an orchestra—they organize and direct the music. 'Conducted' means something was organized and directed.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACTIVITY IS A JOURNEY LED BY A GUIDE (e.g., 'conducting an investigation' implies leading it from start to finish).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'conducted' used INCORRECTLY?