educated

Everyday

1. Educated describes a person who has learned a lot, especially at school, college or university. tree →
2. As a verb form, «educated» means taught: «She was educated at a school in Dublin». tree →
3. An «educated guess» is a guess based on some knowledge, not a wild guess. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life «well educated» praises someone who knows a lot. In maths and science, pupils are often asked to make an «educated guess» (an estimate or prediction based on what they know) before an experiment or calculation. In history, many children long ago were never educated because they had to work. Phrases: «well educated», «highly educated», «educated guess», «educated at».

Examples

• My grandma was educated at a small village school. tree →
• She is a well-educated woman who speaks four languages. tree →
• Make an educated guess: how many sweets are in the jar? tree →
• Before the experiment, write an educated guess about what will happen. tree →
• In the past, many girls were not educated at all. tree →
• He was educated at home by his parents. tree →
• "He must be a well-educated swineherd. tree →

Note

Past form of «educate»: educate, educates, educated, educating. Being educated is not the same as being clever or kind; people without school education can be wise. An educated guess in maths is like an estimate: check it afterwards with the real answer.