What is the Past Tense of “bleed”?

“Bleed” is an intriguing word in the English language, primarily associated with the physiological act of losing blood but also extending its meaning to non-physical domains like emotions and finances.

For learners, this verb presents both an opportunity to understand human biology and to navigate various metaphorical uses.

Broadly, “bleed” refers to the act of losing blood from the body, whether due to an injury, medical condition, or other reasons.

However, it can also mean to drain or to take away resources, often used in contexts like finance or emotional expenditure.

The past tense of “bleed” is “bled” and the past participle is also “bled”.

What is the Past Tense of “bleed”?

Bleed (verb):

(1) To lose blood from the body

(2) To drain of resources or to suffer emotional pain

Infinitive: to bleed Simple Past: bled Past Participle: bled

Conjugation Table for “Bleed”

Pronoun	Infinitive	Simple Past	Present Perfect	Present Continuous
I	bleed	bled	have bled	am bleeding
You (sing.)	bleed	bled	have bled	are bleeding
He/She/It	bleeds	bled	has bled	is bleeding
We	bleed	bled	have bled	are bleeding
You (pl.)	bleed	bled	have bled	are bleeding
They	bleed	bled	have bled	are bleeding

Example Sentences

(1) To lose blood from the body

• She bled for hours after the accident before receiving medical help.
• The soldier bled on the battlefield, praying for rescue.
• During surgeries, doctors ensure the patient doesn’t bleed excessively.

(2) To drain of resources or to suffer emotional pain

• Their company bled money before declaring bankruptcy.
• He bled emotionally after the devastating breakup.
• Countries often bleed talent when young professionals seek opportunities abroad.

Focus: Past Tense of Bleed

The verb “bleed” offers layers of meaning, both literal and metaphorical. Besides the primary physiological association, understanding its past tense applications is crucial for learners to capture its connotations.

Below, we have expanded the verb “bleed” across various past tense forms:

Simple Past

The patient bled so much that they needed a transfusion. She bled her savings dry by investing in unreliable stocks. The artist bled colors onto the canvas, creating a masterpiece.

Present Perfect

Many have bled for our country’s freedom. I’ve bled money on that car; it’s always breaking down. She has bled emotionally from past betrayals.

Past Continuous

He was bleeding heavily when they found him. The company was bleeding funds before the new CEO turned things around. While in the relationship, she felt she was bleeding love and energy without reciprocation.

Past Perfect

They had bled their resources dry before seeking financial advice. By the time help arrived, he had bled out. She had bled emotionally for years before seeking therapy.

Understanding the Verb “Bleed”

“Bleed” originates from Old English “blēdan,” meaning to bleed, which reflects its physiological roots. Today, it’s equally prominent in non-physical contexts, indicating depletion or sacrifice.

Phrasal Verbs with “Bleed”

Bleed out: To lose a life-threatening amount of blood. Example: “The character in the movie bled out after the ambush.”

Bleed dry: To exhaust someone of their resources or emotions. Example: “The constant demands of the job bled her dry.”

Bleed for: To feel deep sympathy or sorrow for someone. Example: “He bled for the kids suffering from hunger.”

Nuances in Usage

Bleeding heart: Refers to someone who is excessively sympathetic, especially towards those perceived as underprivileged.

Example: “Some call him a bleeding heart for his charitable works, but he doesn’t mind.”

Bleed red: Often used to emphasize human similarity, implying that despite our differences, we all bleed the same color.

Example: “No matter where we come from, we all bleed red.”

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect: He bleed from his injuries.
• Correct: He bled from his injuries.

• Incorrect: Have you bleed today?
• Correct: Have you bled today?

• Incorrect: She was bleeding her savings.
• Correct: She was bleeding her savings dry.

We also have a full list of irregular verbs from A – Z on the site which you can access from the link here.

You can check other past tense words and our past tense resources by clicking on the links in the table below and in the resource list below that.

Table 2: Table of Links for irregular Past Tense Verbs

bend	meet	copy	beat
lay	draw	buy	Fly
Drink	Think	wear	dive
rise	dream	Speak	bite
bear	begin	freeze	sink
get	give	take	sing
learn	keep	find	be
say	catch	eat	come
go	know	do	cut
drive	fall	let	make
pay	read	build	become
forget	break	bleed	teach

We also have articles and worksheets which we will link examples of below, and if you need more you can try the search box.

• Free Simple Past Tense Worksheets
• irregular verb list
• Simple Present Tense Worksheets
• Regular and irregular past tense worksheets
• Free online past tense games.
• Present perfect tense worksheets
• Simple Future tense worksheets
• irregular Past Tense Verb list
• Simple Past tense ‘ed’ ending rules and handouts