To send means to cause something or someone to go to a different place; to transmit a message or item electronically or physically; or to cause someone or something to enter a particular state.
What Does Send Mean?
Send comes from Old English sendan, meaning "to cause to go" or "to dispatch", related to Old Norse senda and German senden. It is one of the oldest and most versatile verbs in the English language, and its core meaning — causing something to travel from one place to another — has remained stable for over a thousand years.
In modern British English, send covers a wide range of communicative acts: you can send a letter through the post, send an email at work, send a text to a friend, or send files digitally. The verb is also used metaphorically: "The music sent shivers down my spine" or "The bad news sent him into a panic." Understanding these different uses will help you sound natural in both formal and informal contexts.
Send is an irregular verb. Its past simple and past participle forms are both sent — never "sended". This is one of the most common errors made by learners. The key forms are: send (present), sends (third person singular), sending (present participle), sent (past simple), sent (past participle).
Example Sentences by CEFR Level
| Sentence | Level & Note |
|---|---|
| I will send you a message tomorrow. | A2 — basic future with 'will'; send + indirect object |
| Can you send me the address of the restaurant? | B1 — polite request; send + two objects |
| She always sends a polite follow-up email after a job interview in English. | B1 — habitual present simple; professional context |
| The company sent out a detailed proposal to all potential clients last week. | B2 — phrasal verb 'send out'; formal business register |
| The unexpected news sent the markets into a sharp decline, prompting central banks to intervene. | C1 — metaphorical use; complex noun phrase; formal written register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| send an email | Please send an email to confirm your booking. |
| send a message | She sent him a quick message to say she was running late. |
| send a letter | He sent a formal letter of complaint to the council. |
| send a file / document | Could you send me the updated document before Friday? |
| send regards | Please send my regards to your parents. |
| send a request | The team sent a formal request for additional funding. |
| send a reminder | I always send a reminder a day before the meeting. |
| send a parcel / package | She sent the parcel by recorded delivery. |
| send out | The charity sent out thousands of donation appeals. |
| send off | I sent off my application form just before the deadline. |
Usage Notes
Pattern 1 — send + object + to + recipient: "She sent the report to her manager." This is the most neutral and widely used pattern.
Pattern 2 — send + recipient + object: "She sent her manager the report." This double-object pattern is common in informal British English but may feel abrupt in very formal writing.
Pattern 3 — send + object + infinitive of purpose: "They sent the delegate to negotiate the deal." The infinitive explains the purpose of the sending.
Phrasal verbs: send out (distribute to many people), send off (dispatch by post; or dismiss a player in sport), send back (return), send for (summon), send in (submit or deploy). Each has its own specific meaning — learn them in context.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I sended the email this morning.
I sent the email this morning. (irregular past tense — always 'sent', never 'sended')
She send me a message yesterday.
She sent me a message yesterday. (past simple requires 'sent', not the base form)
Please send me the file until Friday.
Please send me the file by Friday. (use 'by' for deadlines, not 'until')