contracted

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "contracted" is correct and suitable for written English.
You can use it when talking about reducing in size or shortening in length, duration, or scope. For example, "The company contracted its operations to better fit the current market trends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Schiele, having also contracted the virus, lasted another three days before dying early in the morning of 31 October.

The Guardian - Arts

Abbott said the move followed an assurance from the British government that any Australian health worker who contracted the virus would be treated "as though he or she were a citizen of the UK".

The Guardian

A taxi driver contracted to international online cab firm Uber and detained on charges of raping a female passenger last weekend in the Indian capital Delhi is a serial sexual offender with dozens of criminal complaints registered against him, local media have claimed.

The Guardian

US gross domestic product (GDP), the broadest measure of the general economy, contracted for the first time in three years in early 2014, shrinking at an annual rate of 1% during the first quarter, the Commerce Department said last month.

The Guardian - Business

"Most of those for the Thanksgiving supply have already been grown and are in good supply – and most have already been contracted for with wholesalers for the retail market".

The Guardian - Business

Madrid health authorities have claimed that Romero contracted the disease after touching the face of the Spanish missionary she was treating.

The Guardian

The Spanish nurse who contracted Ebola after caring for two repatriated missionaries appears to have overcome the deadly disease, health authorities said on Sunday.

The Guardian

As a contracted freelance, King says he did not usually have a byline over his rewrites.

The Guardian

Although Daphrose managed to escape being murdered she was raped on her way into exile and only years later discovered she had contracted HIV.

The Guardian

Frances O'Grady Unpaid overtime is more common in the public sector, with 27.4% of employees working beyond their contracted hours, compared with 18.5% of private sector staff.

The Guardian

I do not think there has been one day when I have worked my contracted hours.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In medical contexts, ensure "contracted" clearly indicates the acquisition of a disease or illness, differentiating it from other meanings of the word.

Common error

Avoid using "contracted" when you mean "contacted". "Contracted" implies a reduction in size or the acquisition of something, while "contacted" means to have made contact with someone.

Linguistic Context

The word "contracted" functions primarily as a verb form (past tense/participle) to indicate the action of becoming smaller or acquiring something, such as an illness. It can also function as an adjective describing something arranged by contract, as suggested by Ludwig AI and exemplified in the provided contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "contracted" is a versatile term that can function as a verb or adjective, primarily indicating a reduction in size or the acquisition of something, often an illness. As Ludwig AI confirms, "contracted" is grammatically sound and suitable for use in written English. With a high frequency of occurrence across various sources, including news media and business publications, its meaning is widely understood. While generally neutral in tone, awareness of specific context (e.g. medicine) can aid in more precise understanding. Common errors include confusion with the word "contacted". In summary, "contracted" is a useful word, provided its specific nuances are well understood by the writer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shrunk

Focuses specifically on physical reduction in size or volume.

diminished

Implies a reduction in importance, size, or intensity.

narrowed

Emphasizes a reduction in width or scope.

compressed

Highlights the act of squeezing something into a smaller space.

abbreviated

Suggests shortening in length, either physically or temporally.

shortened

Highlights the act of making something shorter in length or duration.

undertook

Indicates the beginning of something, such as a project or task.

incurred

Stresses the acquisition of something undesirable, like debt or an illness.

agreed upon

Focuses on the mutual consent or agreement to something.

caught

Emphasizes the acquisition of an illness or disease.

FAQs

How can I use "contracted" in a sentence?

You can use "contracted" to describe something that has become smaller, such as "The economy "contracted" during the recession". Alternatively, it can mean to acquire something, typically an illness, for example, "She "contracted" a virus while traveling".

What are some alternatives to using the word "contracted"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "contracted" include "shrunk", "diminished", "narrowed", "compressed", "undertook" or "caught". Choose the word that best fits the meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say someone "contracted" a disease?

Yes, it is correct. In medical contexts, "contracted" means to acquire or develop a disease or illness. For example, "The patient "contracted" pneumonia during their hospital stay".

What's the difference between "contracted" and "contacted"?

"Contracted" refers to becoming smaller or acquiring something (like an illness), while "contacted" means to get in touch with someone. For example, "The metal "contracted" in the cold", versus "I "contacted" the client yesterday".