What does toasted mean?
Toasted is principally an adjective and the past-tense or past-participle form of toast. In its culinary sense, it describes food—especially bread, nuts, seeds, or coconut—that has been browned or crisped by heat; toasted bread and toasted almonds are familiar examples. The word can also be used informally for a person who is very drunk, typically in a playful or exaggerated register rather than formal writing. In informal North American usage, it can additionally mean thoroughly defeated or overwhelmed, as in a sporting contest or game. These idiomatic meanings are figurative rather than literal applications of the cooking process. As a participle, toasted appears naturally in descriptions such as “she toasted the slices until golden.” Because it combines a precise culinary sense with vivid informal extensions, toasted is useful in both practical and expressive writing.
Browned or crisped by heat; informally, very drunk or thoroughly defeated.
"A toasted baguette accompanied the rich stew."
The senses meaning very drunk and thoroughly defeated are informal and generally more common in speech than in formal writing.
The past tense and past participle of toast, meaning to brown, crisp, or heat food.
"She toasted the bread until both sides were golden."
This is the standard regular past-tense and past-participle form in cooking contexts.
One slice can be toasted, but one person can be toasted after one drink too many.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does toasted come from?
The English word toast developed from Old French tost, meaning “to toast or roast,” which was borrowed from Latin tostus, “toasted or roasted,” the past participle of torrere, “to roast or parch with heat.” English subsequently developed forms such as toasting, toaster, and toasted. Comparable forms occur in Romance languages, including Spanish and Portuguese tostado, meaning “toasted” or “roasted.”
How toasted is actually used
The culinary sense is standard in British and American English. The senses meaning very drunk and thoroughly defeated are informal; the former can sound playful or mildly disapproving, while the latter is especially associated with informal North American usage.
Easily confused with toasted
Toasted means browned or crisped by heat, whereas tasted means sampled or evaluated for flavor.