deserted
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
KK: /dɪˈzɜrtɪd/
adjective
Definition
No longer occupied or inhabited; left empty and abandoned.
Example
The once-bustling town was now deserted after the factory closed down.
Conversation
Have you seen that old park near my house?
Yeah, it looks so deserted now.
I used to love playing there as a kid.
Same here! It's sad to see it so deserted now.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
abandoned
desolate
forsaken
Antonyms
populated
inhabited
crowded
verb
Definition
To leave a place or person without intending to return, often in a way that is considered wrong or irresponsible.
Example
The soldiers deserted their post during the battle.
Tense Forms
Past: deserted
Past Participle: deserted
Conversation
I heard that they completely deserted the old amusement park last year.
Really? I used to love going there as a kid!
Yeah, it’s such a shame that it got deserted like that.
Root Explanation
Deserted → It is formed from "desert" (from Old French *deserter*, meaning to abandon) and the suffix "-ed" (indicating a past action). The word "deserted" means abandoned or left empty, as in a place that has been forsaken.
Memory Tip
Think of a place that has been 'abandoned' ('desert') and the '-ed' shows that this action has already happened. This helps you remember that 'deserted' means a place that is no longer occupied.
Visually Confused Words
undeserted
exserted
desperate
desuete
dessert
desired