perfect tense

noun

A verb form indicating that an action or state has been completed at the present time, in the past, or shall be completed in the future.

Similar
perfectiveperfective tenseperfect
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Meanings

nounperfect tense (plural perfect tenses)

plural perfect tenses

  1. A verb form indicating that an action or state has been completed at the present time, in the past, or shall be completed in the future.
    1. Often, specifically, the present perfect tense as distinguished from the past perfect and future perfect tenses.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna tense of verbs used in describing action that has been completed (sometimes regarded as perfective aspect)

Similar
perfectiveperfective tenseperfect
Broader
tense
Also see
perfectperfective

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Bulgarian свърше́но вре́ме, аори́ст
  • свърше́но вре́ме (svăršéno vréme)verb form indicating that an action has been completed
  • аори́ст (aoríst)verb form indicating that an action has been completed
Chinese Mandarin 完成時態 /完成时态
  • 完成時態 /完成时态 (wánchéng shítài)verb form indicating that an action has been completed
Danish førnutid, perfektum
  • førnutidverb form indicating that an action has been completed
  • perfektumverb form indicating that an action has been completed
Finnish perfektimuoto
  • perfektimuotoverb form indicating that an action has been completed
Greek παρακείμενος
  • παρακείμενος (parakeímenos)verb form indicating that an action has been completed
Italian perfetto
  • perfettoverb form indicating that an action has been completed
Japanese 完了形
  • 完了形 (kanryō-kei)verb form indicating that an action has been completed
Latin perfectum
  • perfectumverb form indicating that an action has been completed
Norwegian perfektum, andre futurum
  • perfektumverb form indicating that an action has been completed
  • andre futurumverb form indicating that an action has been completed
Persian نقلی
  • نقلی (naqli)verb form indicating that an action has been completed
Polish czas dokonany
  • czas dokonanyverb form indicating that an action has been completed
Portuguese perfeito
  • perfeitoverb form indicating that an action has been completed
Russian соверше́нное вре́мя, перфе́кт
  • соверше́нное вре́мя (soveršénnoje vrémja)verb form indicating that an action has been completed
  • перфе́кт (perfékt)verb form indicating that an action has been completed
Slovak perfektum
  • perfektumverb form indicating that an action has been completed
Cite this entry
APA

perfect tense. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perfect%20tense

MLA

“perfect tense.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perfect%20tense. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “perfect tense,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perfect%20tense.

Source: perfect tense on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.