designed

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "designed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is most commonly used as a verb (past tense and past participle form of "design") to indicate that something was created or planned for a particular purpose. For example: "This website was designed to provide helpful information about online safety."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Perhaps even more worrying to Mr. Assad, his military has come to rely more heavily on equipment designed for a major battle with a foreign enemy, namely Israel, rather than a protracted civil conflict with his own people.

The New York Times

Guardian Masterclasses are designed to provide an enjoyable and high-quality experience for those attending.

The Guardian

But, if it was not designed with lucrative corporate functions in mind, would it need to be quite so dominant?

The Guardian - Arts

She said: "His status as honorary president does not give him the right to hijack the Front National with vulgar provocations seemingly designed to damage me, but that unfortunately hit the whole movement".

The Guardian

It is designed to ensure that the 50,000 young people "most at risk of starting a life on benefits" find that their first contact with the benefits system is a requirement to undertake community work and search for jobs.

The Guardian

It dates back to 1967 when Lauren designed a line of neck ties and the success can be put down to the brand's eclectic nature.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We just launched a design your own boots service and I have designed a lovely pair for spring.

The Guardian

Between sips, you can place that beer on specially designed stands that reside here, next to each of the dozens of classic video arcade games of your youth (or maybe your older brother or sister's youth).

The Guardian - Travel

Mental health carries a huge social stigma across Africa and information booklets designed to help people with depression or mental health problems simply weren't working, especially in remote communities with high illiteracy rates.

The Guardian

"International human rights law leaves out men in nearly all instruments designed to address sexual violence," she continues.

The Guardian

Nothing was making sense and she was unable to navigate the new timetables designed by the court that stipulated where she should be, at what time, on which day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the purpose of something, follow "designed" with "to" + verb. For example, "This tool is designed to simplify the process".

Common error

Avoid using "designed for" when describing the intended action. Use "designed to" instead. "Designed for" is better suited for specifying the target user or environment. Correct: "This app is designed to help you meditate". Incorrect: "This app is designed for help you meditate".

Linguistic Context

The word "designed" functions primarily as a past participle of the verb "design", often used to describe something that has been created with a specific purpose or plan in mind. As Ludwig AI indicates, it can also act as an adjective.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Lifestyle

15%

Travel

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "designed" is a versatile term, functioning as both a past participle and an adjective, commonly used to express the deliberate creation and intended purpose of something. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it follows standard grammar rules and is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, lifestyle, and travel. When writing, using "designed to" specifies the purpose, while "designed for" defines the target audience or environment. With its frequent use across authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times, "designed" proves to be a reliable and effective choice for clear and purposeful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

created

A general term for bringing something into existence, often used interchangeably but less specific about intent.

intended

Focuses on the purpose or goal behind the creation, highlighting the planned use.

engineered

Emphasizes technical precision and planning in the creation process.

purpose-built

Emphasizes that something was built with a specific objective in mind from the outset.

planned

Highlights the prior planning that went into the creation.

fashioned

Suggests a degree of artistry or craftsmanship in the making of something.

custom-made

Highlights that something was specifically created to meet individual specifications.

tailored

Suggests a close fit and adaptation to particular requirements or preferences.

contrived

Implies a degree of artificiality or manipulation in the design.

developed

Focuses on the process of improvement and refinement over time.

FAQs

How can I use "designed" in a sentence?

You can use "designed" to describe the intended purpose or function of something. For example, "The software was designed to improve efficiency". It is often followed by "to" + verb.

What are some alternatives to the word "designed"?

Depending on the context, you could use "created", "intended", or "engineered".

Is it correct to say "designed for" or "designed to"?

"Designed to" is used to describe the purpose, while "designed for" specifies the intended user or environment. For example, "This program is designed to teach children" versus "This program is designed for children".

What's the difference between "designed" and "developed"?

"Designed" implies an initial plan or blueprint, while "developed" suggests a process of growth and refinement. Something can be both "designed" at the outset and "developed" over time.