Past Tense of Wed
The verb “wed” has two documented past forms in the reviewed dictionaries: wed and wedded. Both can serve as simple past and past participle. Present them neutrally unless a source establishes a narrower contextual preference.
Both “wed” and “wedded” are documented as past-tense and past-participle forms of “wed.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| simple past | wed / wedded | Both forms are documented. |
| past participle | wed / wedded | Both forms are documented. |
| present/base form | wed | Use “wed.” |
Quick tests
Verb-form test
Does the sentence require a past form of the verb “wed”?
If yes: Use either documented “wed” or “wedded.”
If no: Use “wed” in present/base-form contexts.
Caveat: The reviewed evidence documents both forms and does not justify a universal correctness ranking between them.
Examples
They wed in a small ceremony last spring.
“Wed” is a documented simple-past form.
They wedded in a small ceremony last spring.
“Wedded” is also a documented simple-past form.
The two traditions were wedded in the final design.
“Wedded” is a documented past participle.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use either documented form when it fits the sentence; do not label the other form incorrect merely because one source lists it first.
Fast Test
Do not confuse the verb “wed” with the abbreviation “Wed.” for Wednesday, and do not turn dictionary ordering into an unsupported usage ranking.
Usage Boundary
This guide covers the marriage/combine verb inflection; fixed adjective uses such as “wedded to” have their own syntax.
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.
- WED Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Merriam-Webster records wedded also wed as inflected forms of wed.
- WED | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge records wed or wedded as both the past tense and past participle of wed.