be swallowed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be swallowed" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where something is consumed or engulfed, either literally or metaphorically. For example, "The fish will be swallowed by the larger predator." Alternative expressions include "be consumed" and "be engulfed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But it was impossible not to be swallowed," Mukherjee writes.

The New York Times - Books

Poorly-managed ones will fail and be swallowed.

The Economist

But it seems only so much pride could be swallowed.

The New York Times - Sports

Pride has to be swallowed, on both sides.

The Economist

"The whole country could be swallowed by civil war".

Independent

Without it, we will be swallowed up," he said.

The New York Times

The nearest planets will be swallowed by the sun.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

American negotiators object that the pact must be swallowed whole.

The New York Times

The resulting pieces are small enough to be swallowed.

The New York Times - Science

He'd be swallowed by London, squashed by everywhere else.

The Guardian - Music

In theory, Samarinda could be swallowed by coal.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In metaphorical contexts like business, pairing it with "whole" or "up" (e.g. "be swallowed up") emphasizes the total loss of independence for the smaller company.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use "by" when they mean "in" for environmental contexts. While "be swallowed by the sea" is correct for an active force, use "be swallowed in the darkness" when describing an state of being enveloped by a static environment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be swallowed" functions as a passive voice construction consisting of the auxiliary verb "to be" and the past participle of "swallow". According to Ludwig AI, this allows writers to describe the act of consumption without necessarily identifying the consumer as the primary subject. It is often followed by a prepositional phrase starting with "by" or "up".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be swallowed" is a highly effective passive construction that bridges the gap between literal biological processes and complex metaphorical descriptions. Ludwig AI shows that it is used with high frequency in prestigious outlets like The New York Times and The Economist, appearing in contexts ranging from medical instructions ("the pill must be swallowed whole") to corporate maneuvers and environmental disasters. Because it can describe both a physical act and a state of being overwhelmed, it remains a staple of formal English. Writers should feel confident using it in diverse genres, provided they pay attention to the intensity conveyed by adding the particle "up" or the preposition "by" to fit their specific communicative goal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be consumed

General term for being eaten or used up by something else

be engulfed

Emphasizes being completely surrounded or covered by something

be ingested

Specific to the biological process of taking a substance into the body

be absorbed

Focuses on being integrated into a larger whole or taken in by a surface

be devoured

Adds a more aggressive or intense tone to the act of being eaten

be taken whole

Emphasizes the lack of fragmentation during the consumption process

be assimilated

Often used in cultural or corporate contexts for being merged into a system

be overwhelmed

A metaphorical shift focusing on being defeated or buried by force

be integrated

A more neutral way to describe being combined into a larger entity

be washed down

Specific to the act of swallowing aided by liquid

FAQs

How do I use "be swallowed" in a medical sentence?

In medical or health contexts, you can say "The tablet should "be swallowed whole" with a glass of water" to indicate that it should not be crushed or chewed.

What is the difference between "be swallowed" and "be engulfed"?

While both imply being covered, "be swallowed" specifically suggests being taken inside something, whereas "be engulfed" emphasizes being surrounded or overwhelmed by things like flames or water.

Can I use "be swallowed up" as an alternative?

Yes, using "be swallowed up" is a common phrasal verb variation that often adds a sense of completeness or finality to the action.

Is "be swallowed" appropriate for professional business writing?

Absolutely. It is a standard way to describe acquisitions, as in "The startup is likely to "be swallowed" by a tech giant".