Send vs. Sent: What's the Difference?

Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 3, 2023

"Send" is the present tense form of the verb, while "Sent" is its past tense and past participle form.

Key Differences

"Send" operates as the base or present tense form of the verb which signifies dispatching something or someone to a location or recipient. In sentences such as "I send the letters every week," the action refers to a current or habitual action using the verb "Send."

Conversely, "Sent" is the past tense and past participle form of the verb "send." When saying "She sent the package yesterday," the verb "Sent" conveys an action that occurred in the past.

Furthermore, "Send" can be used to denote future actions with the help of auxiliary verbs. For instance, in the sentence "She will send the email tomorrow," "Send" indicates a forthcoming action.

On the other hand, "Sent" is frequently used in perfect tenses. A sentence like "He has sent the documents" utilizes "Sent" as a past participle in the present perfect tense, signifying an action completed in the recent past but bearing relevance to the present.

It's paramount to differentiate between "Send" and "Sent" to avoid temporal confusion in communication. Knowing when to employ each term ensures clarity and precision in conveying time-specific actions.

Comparison Chart

Tense

Present

Past

Form of "Send"

Base form

Past tense and past participle form

Usage in time

Current or habitual actions

Completed actions in the past

Example in sentences

I send her flowers.

She sent him a message.

Use in perfect tenses

Yes, e.g., has sent, had sent, etc.

Send and Sent Definitions

Send

Send implies transmitting a message electronically.

She will send an email.

Sent

Sent implies having transmitted a message before.

He had sent a warning.

Send

To cause to be conveyed by an intermediary to a destination

Send goods by plane.

Sent

Sent denotes having caused someone to go in the past.

She sent her daughter to school.

Send

To dispatch, as by a communications medium

Send a message by radio.

Sent

Sent indicates having dispatched something in the past.

He sent the parcel last week.

Send

To direct to go on a mission

Sent troops into the Middle East.

Sent

Sent means having previously ordered or instructed.

The general sent reinforcements yesterday.

Send

To require or enable to go

Sent her children to college.

Sent

Sent signifies having caused a past sensation or event.

The news sent ripples across the community.

Send

To direct (a person) to a source of information; refer

Sent the student to the reference section of the library.

Sent

Past tense and past participle of send1.

Send

To give off (heat, for example); emit or issue

A stove that sends forth great warmth.

Sent

Simple past tense and past participle of send

Send

To utter or otherwise emit (sound)

Sent forth a cry of pain.

Sent

A subdivision of currency, equal to one hundredth of an Estonian kroon.

Send

To hit so as to direct or propel with force; drive

The batter sent the ball to left field. The slap on my back sent me staggering.

Sent

Obsolete form of scent

Send

To cause to take place or occur

We will meet whatever vicissitudes fate may send.

Sent

100 senti equal 1 kroon

Send

To put or drive into a given state or condition

Horrifying news that sent them into a panic.

Sent

Caused or enabled to go or be conveyed or transmitted

Send

(Slang) To transport with delight; carry away

That music really sends me.

Send

To dispatch someone to do an errand or convey a message

Let's send out for hamburgers.

Send

To dispatch a request or order, especially by mail

Send away for a new catalogue.

Send

To transmit a message or messages

The radio operator was still sending when the ship went down.

Send

Variant of scend.

Send

To make something (such as an object or message) go from one place to another (or to someone).

Every day at two o'clock, he sends his secretary out to buy him a coffee.

She sends me a letter every month.

Send

To excite, delight, or thrill (someone).

Send

(transitive) To bring to a certain condition.

Send

To dispatch an agent or messenger to convey a message or do an errand.

Seeing how ill she was, we sent for a doctor at once.

Send

(transitive) To cause to be or to happen; to bring, bring about; (archaic) to visit: (Referring to blessing or reward) To bestow; to grant. (Referring to curse or punishment) To inflict. Sometimes followed by a dependent proposition.

Send

To pitch.

Send

To make a successful ascent of a sport climbing route.

She finally sent the 12a after hours of failed attempts.

Send

To care.

Send

(telecommunications) An operation in which data is transmitted.

Send

An icon (usually on a computer screen and labeled with the word "Send") on which one clicks (with a mouse or its equivalent) or taps to transmit an email or other electronic message.

Good thing I didn't hit send on that resume; I just noticed a bad typo.

Send

(nautical) scend

Send

(Scotland) A messenger, especially one sent to fetch the bride.

Send

A callout or diss usually aimed at a specific person, often in the form of a diss track.

Send

(climbing) A successful ascent of a sport climbing route.

Send

To cause to go in any manner; to dispatch; to commission or direct to go; as, to send a messenger.

I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran.

I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Servants, sent on messages, stay out somewhat longer than the message requires.

Send

To give motion to; to cause to be borne or carried; to procure the going, transmission, or delivery of; as, to send a message.

He . . . sent letters by posts on horseback.

O send out thy light an thy truth; let them lead me.

Send

To emit; to impel; to cast; to throw; to hurl; as, to send a ball, an arrow, or the like.

Send

To cause to be or to happen; to bestow; to inflict; to grant; - sometimes followed by a dependent proposition.

The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke.

And sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

God send your mission may bring back peace.

Send

To dispatch an agent or messenger to convey a message, or to do an errand.

See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away my head?

Send

To pitch; as, the ship sends forward so violently as to endanger her masts.

Send

The impulse of a wave by which a vessel is carried bodily.

Send

Cause to go somewhere;

The explosion sent the car flying in the air

She sent her children to camp

He directed all his energies into his dissertation

Send

To cause or order to be taken, directed, or transmitted to another place;

He had sent the dispatches downtown to the proper people and had slept

Send

Cause to be directed or transmitted to another place;

Send me your latest results

I'll mail you the paper when it's written

Send

Transport commercially

Send

Assign to a station

Send

Transfer;

The spy sent the classified information off to Russia

Send

Cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution;

After the second episode, she had to be committed

He was committed to prison

Send

Broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television;

We cannot air this X-rated song

Send

Send indicates dispatching something to a location.

I send mail regularly.

Send

Send denotes causing someone to go somewhere.

I'll send my son to the store.

Send

Send signifies causing something to happen or be felt.

This news will send shockwaves.

Send

Send means to order or instruct.

He will send troops into battle.

FAQs

What tense is "Sent"?

"Sent" is past tense.

Can "Send" be used for future actions?

Yes, with auxiliary verbs, e.g., "She will send it."

Is "Sent" a past participle?

Yes, it's both past tense and past participle of "Send."

How do we show completed dispatch in the past?

Use "Sent," like "He sent the letter."

Which is correct: "I send it yesterday" or "I sent it yesterday"?

"I sent it yesterday" is correct.

Is "Send" present or past tense?

"Send" is present tense.

How is "Send" used with commands?

Like "Send me the details."

Can "Send" denote transmitting electronically?

Yes, like "Send a text."

How is "Sent" used in perfect tenses?

As a past participle, e.g., "I have sent it."

Can "Send" indicate causing an emotion?

Yes, like in "This will send her into laughter."

How do you indicate a past instruction?

Use "Sent," like "He sent them on a mission."

How does "Send" express habitual actions?

Like "I always send postcards."

Is "Sent" used to show a past electronic transmission?

Yes, like "He sent an email."

Can "Send" mean to order or instruct?

Yes, like "Send him in."

Is "Send" used with third person singular?

Yes, with an "s", like "She sends."

Which form is used for ongoing actions?

"Send," as in "I still send her gifts."

How do you express a past sensation caused?

With "Sent," like "The news sent waves of joy."

How can "Sent" be used with "have"?

In present perfect, like "I have sent the email."

Can "Sent" be used for actions before another past action?

Yes, in past perfect, e.g., "She had sent it before he asked."

Is "Send" a regular verb?

Yes, its past form is "Sent."

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About Author

Written by

Janet White

Janet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.

Edited by

Aimie Carlson

Aimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.