be depleted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'be depleted' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about a resource or supply, for example, "The forests in the area have been severely depleted by clear-cutting".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The principal will never be depleted".

The New York Times

MetroCards will henceforth be depleted in giant steps.

The New Yorker

It may now be Patterson's turn to be depleted.

The New York Times

The portfolio would not be depleted until 2051.

The New York Times

The military would not be "depleted" any more.

The New Yorker

Depleted, it's depleted — it won't be depleted for long.

The Washington Post

Was the company's wealth of stars to be depleted?

The New York Times - Arts

In the early 1990s, it became apparent that urchin populations would soon be depleted.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

By contrast, the Congressional Budget Office said it would not be depleted until 2052.

The New York Times

"When this administration took office, the Medicare trust fund was projected to be depleted in 1999.

The New York Times

"As soon as her job title is taken away," says Furlong, "her influence will be depleted".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with time-bound projections (e.g., "projected to be depleted by 2030") to increase the impact of financial or environmental reporting.

Common error

Do not use "be depleted" for single, discrete items that are simply misplaced or missing. For instance, say "my keys are gone", not "my keys are depleted". Reserve the phrase for bulk quantities, stores, or measurable substances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be depleted" serves as a passive construction consisting of the auxiliary verb 'to be' and the past participle of 'deplete'. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to describe a state where a resource, supply, or substance has been significantly reduced or emptied. It shifts the focus from the agent causing the reduction to the subject being exhausted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "be depleted" is a highly versatile and formal passive phrase used to describe the significant reduction or exhaustion of resources. As demonstrated by Ludwig examples, it is a staple in scientific discourse regarding environmental health and academic research on biological stores. It is also a key term in news reporting when discussing the longevity of financial funds like Medicare or Social Security. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and most effective when applied to bulk resources, energy, or measurable substances rather than individual objects. Writers should favor this phrase in professional or technical contexts to convey a precise and authoritative tone regarding scarcity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be exhausted

Implies a more absolute state where absolutely nothing remains of the resource.

be used up

A more common, slightly less formal way to describe consumption.

run out

An active phrasal verb often used for everyday supplies or time.

be drained

Commonly used for liquid resources, energy, or metaphorical emotional states.

be consumed

Focuses on the process of using the resource rather than just its absence.

be diminished

Suggests a reduction in size or importance, but not necessarily a total emptying.

be spent

Specifically used for financial resources, effort, or time.

be emptied

Literal usage for containers or physical spaces.

be dissipated

Implies a wasteful or scattered reduction of energy or funds.

be tapped out

Informal slang for being out of money or energy.

FAQs

How do I use "be depleted" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a resource that is running low, such as "The ozone layer continues to "be depleted" by harmful chemicals" or "The company's cash reserves will soon "be depleted" if sales do not improve".

What is the difference between "be depleted" and "run out"?

While both mean a resource is finishing, "run out" is more casual and can be active (e.g., "We ran out of milk"), whereas "be depleted" is formal and usually passive, focusing on the reduction of a larger store or supply.

Can I use "be depleted" to describe a person?

Yes, but usually in a metaphorical or physiological sense, such as "Her energy was "be exhausted"" or "The athlete's electrolytes may "be depleted" after a long race".

Is it correct to say "become depleted"?

Yes, "become depleted" is perfectly correct and focuses on the process of reaching that state, whereas "be depleted" often describes the final state itself.