Past Tense of Slide
“Slide” follows the pattern slide → slid → slid. The same inflected form serves a finite simple-past clause and a past-participle construction; surrounding grammar identifies the role. This guide concerns the verb. Noun senses such as a playground slide, presentation slide, or photographic slide are separate.
The simple past and past participle of “slide” are both “slid.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| completed action in simple past | slid | Use “slid.” |
| past participle after have/has/had | slid | Use “slid.” |
| present/base-form context | slide | Use “slide” when a past form is not required. |
Quick tests
Verb-form test
Do you need the simple past or past participle of “slide”?
If yes: Use “slid.”
If no: Use “slide” or the appropriate present form when the sentence is not past.
Caveat: Both simple past and past participle are “slid.” This guide concerns the verb. Noun senses such as a playground slide, presentation slide, or photographic slide are separate.
Examples
The box slid across the floor.
“Slid” is the simple past.
Prices have slid since the announcement.
“Slid” is the past participle after “have.”
The door can slide along the track.
The base form remains “slide.”
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “slid” for both the simple past and the past participle.
Fast Test
If the sentence needs a past form or participle, choose “slid”; use “slide” or the appropriate present form in present-time contexts.
Usage Boundary
Both simple past and past participle are “slid.” This guide concerns the verb. Noun senses such as a playground slide, presentation slide, or photographic slide are separate.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- SLIDE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Merriam-Webster records slid as the inflected past form of slide.
- SLIDE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge records slid as both the past tense and past participle of slide.