What does reviewed mean?
Reviewed is the past tense and past participle of review and is also used as an adjective. Its most common meaning is to have examined or assessed something carefully, whether a manuscript, policy, performance, application, or piece of research. The word often implies a professional or critical judgment rather than a cursory glance. In academic publishing, an article described as reviewed has been assessed by specialists, and the stronger expression peer-reviewed specifies that those specialists work in the same field. As an adjective, reviewed can describe any material or process that has undergone such examination. Review also has the more specific sense of writing a critical account of a book, film, performance, or artistic work. Although “reviewed” and “revised” are sometimes confused, they describe different processes: reviewing evaluates a work, while revising alters it. The word is common in academic, legal, commercial, and editorial contexts in both British and American English.
To examine, assess, or evaluate something, especially by reading, watching, or considering it carefully.
"The board reviewed the application's financial projections before making a decision."
In academic publishing, the verb often means to subject a scholarly work to critical assessment.
Having been examined, assessed, or subjected to critical evaluation.
"The reviewed manuscript was accepted with minor revisions."
The compound “peer-reviewed” is especially common in academic and scientific contexts.
What begins as a simple look back at something can also become a rigorous judgment of its worth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reviewed come from?
Review developed from Anglo-French revere, meaning to see again, and ultimately from Latin reperire, “to seek out” or “find,” combining re- with the root of perire, “to go through.” The modern sense of examining and judging something developed during the 18th century. Review belongs to a family of words connected with seeing and examining, including view, interview, preview, and revision.
Related word forms
How reviewed is actually used
The common academic and professional sense refers to systematic examination or evaluation. In publishing, “reviewed” may also specifically mean assessed by one or more reviewers, while “peer-reviewed” denotes evaluation by specialists in the same field.
Easily confused with reviewed
A review evaluates or assesses something, whereas a revision involves changing or correcting it.
Reviewed means examined or assessed, while proved means demonstrated to be true or correct.