taught

Taught is the past tense and past participle of the verb teach, an irregular form used in both spoken and written English. It most often means that someone instructed another person in a subject, skill, or area of knowledge: a teacher taught students geometry, or a relative taught someone to cook. Taught can also describe lessons learned indirectly through experience, as in “The setback taught him patience.” Because it functions as both a past-tense verb form and a past participle, it appears in constructions such as “She taught us” and “We have been taught the value of honesty.” The word is neutral in tone and equally common in British and American English. Its irregular structure is especially memorable because many verbs form their past tense by adding -ed, but taught does not.

The past tense and past participle of teach. It means instructed someone in a subject, skill, or field of knowledge, and can also describe learning conveyed through experience or example.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Where does taught come from?

Taught descends from Old English tǣcan, meaning “to teach” or “instruct.” Its past form developed from the Old English preterite tǣhte, and the final -e was lost during the Middle English period, producing the modern form taught. Teacher and teaching belong to the same wider word family and retain the shared historical root.

How taught is actually used

Taught is the standard irregular past tense and past participle of teach. It is neutral in register and used commonly in formal and informal English in British and American varieties.

Easily confused with taught

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Words and phrases paired with taught

Rhymes with taught