littered
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /ˈlɪtərd/
KK: /ˈlɪtərd/
adjective
Definition
Covered with trash or waste that is scattered around.
Example
The park was littered with plastic bottles and wrappers after the festival.
Comparatives & Superlatives
Comparative: more littered
Superlative: most littered
Conversation
Have you seen the park lately?
Yeah, it looks so littered with trash.
It's such a shame because it used to be so nice.
I know! We should organize a cleanup day.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
messy
untidy
disordered
Antonyms
clean
neat
orderly
verb
Definition
To have scattered or left waste or unwanted items in a place, making it messy or dirty.
Example
The park was littered with trash after the festival.
Tense Forms
Past: littered
Past Participle: littered
Conversation
Did you see how the park was littered with trash after the festival?
Yeah, it was really disappointing to see that.
I wish people would take their garbage with them.
Root Explanation
Littered → It is formed from "litter" (from Old French *litere*, meaning bed or litter) and the suffix "-ed" (indicating a past action). The word "littered" means to have made a place messy or covered with scattered items, as if it were a bed of waste.
Memory Tip
Think of 'litter' as a bed of waste that has been scattered around, and the '-ed' shows that this action has already happened.
Visually Confused Words
unlittered
lettered
blistered
slitter
slitted
nitered
mitered
livered