dealt

dealt — verb

1. the past tense and past participle form of the verb 'deal'; used after auxiliari

1.verbA2
Definition

the past tense and past participle form of the verb 'deal'; used after auxiliaries such as has, have, had, or as a simple past verb to talk about something that was handled, given out, or sold in the past.

Example

Owen has dealt with hundreds of customer complaints since joining the call centre.

present perfect: has dealt with + noun

The shop in Camden once dealt only in second-hand vinyl records.

simple past: dealt in + noun

Common collocations
  • dealt with
  • dealt in
  • had dealt
  • has dealt
  • dealt fairly
  • dealt the cards

Usage Note

Only the inflected form of 'deal'. For the meanings, choose the right sense at the entry for 'deal'. Note the irregular spelling: 'deal' becomes 'dealt' (not 'dealed') in both the past simple and past participle.

Common Mistakes

I dealed with the problem yesterday.
I dealt with the problem yesterday.
'deal' is irregular; the past form is 'dealt', not 'dealed'.
She has deal with him before.
She has dealt with him before.
after 'has' or 'have', use the past participle 'dealt'.

Word family

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • dealt with the matter
  • dealt a heavy blow
  • dealt a fair hand

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

An irregular past form of 'deal'. The verb 'deal' comes from Old English 'dǣlan', meaning to divide or share out, related to Old English 'dǣl' (a part or portion). The 't' ending in 'dealt' reflects an old Germanic past-tense pattern preserved in several English verbs such as 'felt', 'kept', and 'meant'.