What does experimented mean?
"Experimented" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "experiment," meaning to have tried out an idea, method, substance, or activity in order to discover what happens or whether it works. The word spans two main senses: the formal scientific sense, where researchers experimented to test hypotheses or isolate results, and the broader, more personal sense of exploring new possibilities — an artist who experimented with collage, a cook who experimented with spices. Its tone is neutral, though the phrase "experimented on" (as in subjects of research) can carry ethical weight. The word derives from Latin experiri, meaning "to try," which also gives English "experience" and "expert." It remains one of the most useful verbs for describing inquiry and innovation, capturing both careful scientific method and open-ended creative curiosity in a single term.
verbPast tense and past participle of "experiment": to have tried out new ideas, methods, or activities in order to discover what works or to learn something new, especially in a scientific or practical context.
- To have carried out a scientific test or procedure to discover or verify something.
- To have tried out new ideas, styles, or methods, especially in creative or everyday contexts.
"In her final year of university, she experimented with oil paints before settling on watercolours."
"The chemists experimented for months before isolating the new compound."
"As a teenager he experimented with several instruments before finding his voice on the guitar."
Every vaccine you've ever had exists because someone somewhere experimented — and 'experiment' itself comes from Latin experiri, 'to try,' the same root that gives us 'experience.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of experimented
The verb traces back through Late Latin experimentum, meaning "a trial or test," from the Latin verb experiri, "to try or test." English adopted "experiment" as both noun and verb in the Middle Ages, with the verb well established by the early modern period alongside the rise of empirical science; the Royal Society's motto, nullius in verba, reflects the same experimental spirit. The word shares its root with "experience" and "expert," all pointing to knowledge gained by trial rather than authority.
Related word forms
How experimented is actually used
The verb is neutral in register and appears equally in scientific and casual contexts. Note the important distinction between "experimented with" (tried using something) and "experimented on" (performed tests involving a subject, as in animals or people), which can carry ethical connotations. Often used in narrative about formative periods: "experimented with drugs" carries a cautionary connotation.
Easily confused with experimented
"Experimented" refers to trying something out to see what happens, while "expertise" is the skill or knowledge gained from experience.