What does outputted mean?
“Outputted” is the past tense and past participle of “output,” meaning to produce, display, print, export, or otherwise deliver information in a usable form. It occurs frequently in descriptions of computers, software, laboratory equipment, publishing systems, and automated reporting processes. For example, a program may output a table, a printer may output a document, or a data service may output a standardized record. The word also functions as a participial adjective, as in “the outputted file,” although that construction is less common. In careful editorial style, writers often prefer “output” as the past tense because it remains unchanged: “the program output the results.” Nevertheless, “outputted” is fully established and can make the grammatical relationship to the base verb especially clear. Its technical associations suggest efficiency, automation, and the conversion of stored or processed information into a delivered result.
Produced, displayed, printed, exported, or otherwise delivered as output.
"The converter outputted the document in both PDF and plain-text formats."
Common in technical and computational contexts. The unchanged past form “output” is also standard and is often preferred in formal writing.
That has been produced, displayed, printed, exported, or otherwise delivered as output.
"The outputted images were archived automatically."
Used chiefly in technical contexts and generally as a participial modifier.
Computers output information; spelling it “outputted” proves that the information actually made it out.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outputted come from?
The base form “output” was formed in the 19th century from “out” and “put,” originally referring to something put or sent out. The prefix “out” continues Old English ūt and is also found in words such as “outward,” “outgoing,” and “outcome.” “Outputted,” formed as the regular past-tense and past-participle form of the verb, developed later as computing and industrial terminology became widespread.
Related word forms
How outputted is actually used
“Outputted” is accepted in both British and American English and is especially common in computing and technical contexts. It is less usual in formal prose than the base form “output,” which can serve as the past tense without changing its form.