What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
roasted
Example
The chicken was roasted to perfection in the oven. [roasted: past participle]
Example
I love the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans. [roasted: adjective]
seared
Example
The chef seared the steak to give it a nice crust. [seared: verb]
Example
The tuna was seared to perfection and served rare. [seared: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Roasted is more commonly used than seared in everyday language, especially when referring to cooking vegetables or larger cuts of meat. Searing is more commonly used in professional cooking or when referring to smaller cuts of meat or fish.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between roasted and seared?
Both roasted and seared can be used in formal and informal contexts, but roasted is generally considered more versatile and can be used in a wider range of situations.