verb

penned

pehnd

verb

Wrote or composed something, especially using a pen; past tense of "pen".

"She penned a heartfelt letter to her old friend."

"The songwriter penned three hit singles that year."

Shut an animal into an enclosure; past tense of "pen" (the enclosure sense).

"The farmer penned the sheep before the storm hit."

adj

Having wings or plumage; winged (a rare, mostly literary use).

"The poem describes penned creatures soaring above the clouds."

How to Use Penned

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually just means "wrote" (as in penned a novel) or "shut in a pen" (as in penned the cattle) — context tells you which.

Common pairings

penned a letter penned an article penned in

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She _____ a heartfelt letter to her old friend.