Irregular verb
The verb to bleed
bleed → bled → bled
B2Meaning: to lose blood · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they bleed·he/she/it bleeds - Past Simple:
bled(the vowel ee becomes e) - Past participle:
bled(the same) - -ing form:
bleeding
Conjugation of the verb to bleed
Present Simple
| I | bleed |
| You | bleed |
| He / She / It | bleeds |
| We | bleed |
| You (pl.) | bleed |
| They | bleed |
Past Simple
| I | bled |
| You | bled |
| He / She / It | bled |
| We | bled |
| You (pl.) | bled |
| They | bled |
All the forms of the verb to bleed
Present Simple
Full pagebleed / bleeds
“The cut is bleeding.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are bleeding
“I am bleeding a little right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagebled
“His nose bled all morning.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were bleeding
“I was bleeding a little when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has bled
“I have already bled a little.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad bled
“She had already bled a little when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill bleed
“I will bleed a little tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to bleed
“I'm going to bleed a little this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould bleed
“I would bleed a little if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to bleed
1. Losing blood
- My nose is bleeding.
- The cut bled for hours.
2. Giving your blood (for a cause)
This use is figurative: to suffer or give everything for something or someone.
- He bleeds for his country.
3. Bleed dry / bleed someone
Bleed someone dry means to take all their money.
- The taxes are bleeding us dry.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. My heart bleeds for you = often ironic
My heart bleeds can mean I feel very sad for someone. But it is often ironic: My heart bleeds for you can mean I don't feel sorry for you at all!
2. My nose is blooding ❌
Blood is the noun: There is blood on my shirt. Bleed is the verb: My nose is bleeding. Never use blood as a verb.
What's next?
You can conjugate to bleed. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of bleed?+
The Past Simple of bleed is bled. The past participle is also bled. Bleed → bled → bled. Same pattern (ee becomes e): feed → fed, breed → bred, flee → fled, speed → sped.
What is a nosebleed?+
A nosebleed (one word) is when blood comes out of your nose. I had a nosebleed. You can also say My nose is bleeding. Both mean the same thing.
What does bleed someone dry mean?+
Bleed someone dry is an idiom: to take all of someone's money, little by little. The taxes are bleeding us dry. The picture is strong: someone loses all their blood, so they have nothing left.
Is bloody a bad word in British English?+
Bloody is an informal British word that makes something stronger: It's bloody cold! means it is very cold. It is not very rude, but it is impolite in formal situations. Don't use it at school, at work or with someone you don't know well. It comes from blood, like bleed.
What does bleeding edge mean?+
Bleeding edge means the very newest technology, even newer than cutting edge (the most modern). Bleeding-edge technology is so new that it can still be risky. It is a common term in tech and in start-ups.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/bleed
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.