Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Made neat and orderly by using a comb: Describes hair that has been arranged, smoothed, or untangled by drawing a comb through it.
   • Having a specific style created by combing: Often used to describe hair set in a particular direction or pattern using a comb.

Usage and Examples

• General Use:
  • She arrived with perfectly combed hair. (Her hair was neat and smooth from being brushed with a comb.)
  • After his shower, his wet, combed hair looked darker. (His hair was tidy and arranged after he combed it while wet.)
• Describing a Style:
  • He has his hair combed straight back. (His hair is styled backward using a comb.)
  • The old photograph showed a boy with neatly combed hair to the side. (The boy's hair was carefully parted and smoothed to one side with a comb.)

Advanced Usage

• "freshly combed": very recently combed, emphasizing neatness.
  • His freshly combed beard was impressive. (His beard showed clear signs of having just been combed.)
• "well-combed" / "neatly combed": combed thoroughly and carefully.
  • The job interview requires well-combed hair and professional attire. (Tidy, carefully arranged hair is required.)

Variants and Related Words

• Comb (verb): To draw a comb through hair to tidy, style, or untangle it.
  • You should comb your hair before we leave.
• Uncombed (adjective): Not combed; messy or tangled.
  • He ran out with uncombed hair.
• Comb-over (noun): A hairstyle where hair is combed over a bald spot. (This is a related compound noun, not a direct variant of "combed").
  • He tried to hide his bald spot with a comb-over.

Synonyms

• Groomed: Made neat and tidy, especially in appearance.
• Brushed: Smoothed or arranged with a brush (similar action but with a different tool).
• Tidy: Neat and orderly in appearance.

Antonyms

• Disheveled: Untidy, disordered, especially of hair or clothing.
• Unkempt: Not combed; having an untidy or uncared-for appearance.
• Messed-up: Informal for untidy or disordered.

Notes on Usage

• The word "combed" is almost exclusively used as an adjective to describe the state of hair (or occasionally fur/wool) after the action of combing. It is the past participle of the verb "to comb" used adjectivally.
• It is typically used before a noun (e.g., combed hair) or after a linking verb like "was" or "looked" (e.g., His hair was combed).
• While "combed" refers to the result, the verb "comb" refers to the action. Do not confuse "combed hair" (the styled result) with "to comb hair" (the activity).

Adjective

1. (of hair) made tidy with a comb
   • with hair combed to the side