What does woven mean?
Woven is an English word that can describe something made by interlacing threads, fibers, reeds, or other strands. It is also the past participle of the verb weave, as in “the cloth was woven by hand.” Its literal uses refer to textiles and similar crafted materials, while its figurative uses describe people, ideas, stories, or communities being combined into an interconnected whole. A phrase such as “woven into the fabric” shows how the word can suggest both integration and gradual change: something becomes part of a larger structure while retaining its identity. Woven is especially useful in descriptive and literary writing because it gives a clear physical image of connection and craftsmanship. In formal contexts it remains clear and authoritative, while in everyday speech it is also readily understood. The related forms weave, weaver, weft, and web reflect the word’s long history in textile production and its broader associations with networks and interconnected patterns.
Made by interlacing threads, yarns, reeds, or similar strands; figuratively, combined or integrated into a coherent whole.
"The basket is woven from pale, flexible reeds."
The figurative adjective is common in formal and literary prose.
The past participle of weave, expressing completed action.
"The designs were woven directly into the fabric."
This form is used with auxiliary verbs such as has, had, and was.
From cloth to communities, woven captures the idea that separate strands can become stronger when interlaced.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How woven is actually used
As an adjective, woven is common in both literal and figurative contexts, although figurative uses often have a literary or rhetorical tone. As a verb form, woven is the past participle of weave and normally appears in constructions such as “has been woven” or “was woven.”
Easily confused with woven
Woven is the past participle of weave and can function as an adjective, while wove is the simple past tense, as in “she wove the basket.”