What does weaved mean?
“Weaved” is the past tense and past participle of “weave,” meaning to make or form something by interlacing threads, strips, or other strands. It can also describe the act of crossing or combining elements, as in “the paths weaved through the woods,” though the more usual past participle in modern English is “woven.” The form is standard in British and American English but less frequent, especially in figurative language. In descriptions of basketry, textiles, fencing, and similar crafts, “weaved” remains readily understood and natural, although “wove” and “woven” are often preferred. As an inflection of an established verb, it is not normally treated as an independent vocabulary word. Its usefulness lies in recognizing it when encountered in older writing, craft descriptions, and the occasional deliberately plain or traditional sentence, where the straightforward regular past form gives the verb a familiar sound without changing its meaning.
verbThe past tense and past participle of weave: to form something by interlacing threads, strands, or other materials. It can also describe moving or combining elements in an intricate, winding pattern.
- To have formed something by interlacing threads, strands, reeds, or similar materials; to have moved or combined elements in a winding or intricate pattern.
"The artisan carefully weaved dried reeds into a basket."
"The artisan carefully weaved dried reeds into a basket."
"The novelist weaved together accounts of several witnesses into a compelling account."
Weaved is not wrong—it is simply outshouted by woven.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does weaved come from?
Weave descends from Old English wefan, a Germanic verb meaning to interlace threads. Its relatives include web and weft, while Dutch weven and German weben are cognates. The past form wove and past participle woven are now standard, but weaved has continued as a regular inflection.
Related word forms
How weaved is actually used
The form is standard but relatively uncommon. Its literal use is especially associated with threads, textiles, basketry, and similar crafts.
Easily confused with weaved
Both are standard past participles of weave, but woven is the more common choice in contemporary English, while weaved is encountered less often.