created: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (C1)Neutral to formal. Common in all registers but often associated with formal, literary, or business contexts when referring to significant acts of creation.
Quick answer
What does “created” mean?
Brought something into existence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Brought something into existence; caused something new to happen or exist.
Invented or produced through imaginative skill; generated a particular feeling or situation; formally appointed or established (e.g., a peer).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling differences follow the -ise/-ize pattern: 'created' is universal. British English may more readily use 'created' in formal or official titles (e.g., 'created a Baron').
Connotations
Equally positive in both varieties, associated with innovation and production.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both corpora.
Grammar
How to Use “created” in a Sentence
[SUBJ] created [OBJ] (transitive)[OBJ] was created by [AGENT] (passive)[SUBJ] created [OBJ] from/out of [MATERIAL][SUBJ] created [OBJ] for [PURPOSE/BENEFICIARY]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “created” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The committee created a new advisory role.
- She created the sculpture from reclaimed metal.
American English
- The startup created an innovative app.
- His comment created an awkward silence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to generating value, jobs, products, or strategies. 'The new policy created fifty local jobs.'
Academic
Used in discussions of art, literature, theory, and systems. 'The algorithm created a model of protein folding.'
Everyday
Common for crafts, cooking, and situations. 'She created a lovely garden from a wasteland.'
Technical
In computing and engineering: to instantiate an object or generate data. 'The function created a new array.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “created”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “created”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “created”
- Incorrect: 'He created to make a cake.' Correct: 'He created a cake' or 'He made a cake.'
- Overpassivisation: 'A problem was created by them' is grammatically correct but often less natural than 'They created a problem.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very commonly used for abstract things like atmospheres, opportunities, impressions, and jobs.
'Created' emphasizes originality, invention, or bringing something into existence for the first time. 'Made' is broader and can refer to construction, production, or causing something to happen, with less focus on novelty.
Yes, though less common for divine or monumental creation. It's natural for ongoing processes: 'She is currently creating a series of paintings.'
Yes, it's standard, meaning created by oneself, often referring to a problem or one's own image/opportunity: 'a self-created myth'.
Brought something into existence.
Created is usually neutral to formal. common in all registers but often associated with formal, literary, or business contexts when referring to significant acts of creation. in register.
Created: in British English it is pronounced /kriˈeɪtɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /kriˈeɪt̬ɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “create a stir”
- “created in his own image”
- “a heaven-created genius”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CRater after a meteor strike – a new feature is CREATed in the landscape.
Conceptual Metaphor
CREATION IS BIRTH (e.g., 'the newly created department'), CREATION IS BUILDING (e.g., 'created from scratch'), CREATION IS GENERATION (e.g., 'created electricity').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'created' used in its most fundamental sense?