A written test or piece of work is one which involves writing rather than doing something practical or giving spoken answers.
Learners may have to take a written exam before they pass their driving test.
Amy discovered that the theoretical and written work came easily to her.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A written agreement, rule, or law has been officially written down.
The newspaper broke a written agreement not to sell certain photographs.
We're waiting for written confirmation from the Americans.
4. to be written all over someone's face
written in British English
(ˈrɪtən)
verb
1. the past participle of write
adjective
2.
taken down in writing; transcribed
written evidence
the written word
Compare spoken (sense 2)
written in American English
(ˈrɪtən)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
1. pp. of
write
adjective
2.
put down in a form to be read; not spoken or oral
More idioms containing
written
written all over your face
not worth the paper it's written on
Examples of 'written' in a sentence
written
Written language is more formal than spoken language, and writing is much more difficult than speaking.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
All related terms of 'written'
stick down
to write
write
When you write something on a surface, you use something such as a pen or pencil to produce words, letters, or numbers on the surface.
cowrite
to write (something) in collaboration with another writer
handwrite
to write by hand rather than by typing or printing
miswrite
to write wrongly or in error
outwrite
to be better at writing than
skywrite
to write a message in the sky with smoke trails from an aircraft
Written Law
the Pentateuch
well-written
composed in a competent , and often entertaining , style
written word
You use the written word to refer to language expressed in writing , especially when contrasted with speech or with other forms of expression such as painting or film.
the written word
writing rather than speaking
write in
If you write in to an organization , you send them a letter.
write up
If you write up something that has been done or said , you record it on paper in a neat and complete form, usually using notes that you have made.
write off
If you write off to a company or organization , you send them a letter , usually asking for something.
write out
When you write out something fairly long such as a report or a list , you write it on paper .
gross written premiums
Gross written premiums are the total revenue from a contract expected to be received by an insurer before deductions for reinsurance or ceding commissions .
ghost-write
If a book or other piece of writing is ghost-written , it is written by a writer for another person, for example a politician or sportsman , who then publishes it as his or her own work.
write back
If you write back to someone who has sent you a letter , you write them a letter in reply .
write cover
If an insurance company writes cover , it underwrites a risk or insures someone.
write down
When you write something down , you record it on a piece of paper using a pen or pencil .
write into
If a rule or detail is written into a contract , law, or agreement , it is included in it when the contract, law, or agreement is made.
written all over your face
if an emotion such as relief or misery is written all over your face, it is very obvious to people that you are relieved or miserable , because of your expression
not worth the paper it's written on
if a promise , agreement , or guarantee is not worth the paper it's written on, it is in fact worthless , although it appears to be official or definite
not be worth the paper it is written on
If you say that a promise , an agreement , or a guarantee is not worth the paper it's written on , you mean that although it has been written down and seems to be official, it is in fact worthless because what has been promised will not be done.
to be written all over someone's face be written across/on someone's face
If a feeling is written all over your face or is written across your face , it is very obvious to other people from your expression .