became irrelevant

USAGE SUMMARY

"became irrelevant" is a valid phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which something is no longer valid or applicable. For example: "His knowledge of the law quickly became irrelevant with the introduction of new legislation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Worse than uncool, it became irrelevant.

The New York Times - Food

Overnight all that worry became irrelevant.

The Guardian - Opinion

As the evening wore on, their age difference became irrelevant.

The New York Times

By 1980, with Ronald Reagan's election, it became irrelevant.

The New York Times

At that point, what he said became irrelevant.

The New Yorker

Old skills became irrelevant; new industries sprang up.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The assembly was created in 1995, but gradually became irrelevant.

The Guardian

Does that mean that governance provisions in these indexes became irrelevant for investor interests?

The New York Times

The question of whether Amalia had been a supporter of the old regime became irrelevant.

The Economist

With how well both quarterbacks played this season, their ages became irrelevant.

The New York Times

Once Microsoft built memory managers into Windows, those start-ups became irrelevant.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "became irrelevant" when you want to express that something that was once important or applicable is no longer so, due to changing circumstances, new information, or other factors. Ensure the context clearly indicates what caused the shift in relevance.

Common error

Avoid using "became irrelevant" without clearly establishing the cause of the irrelevance. Ambiguity can confuse the reader; ensure the reason for the shift is evident within the sentence or surrounding context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "became irrelevant" functions as a verb phrase indicating a change in status from relevant to not relevant. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it connects a subject with the state of losing its importance or applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "became irrelevant" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has lost its importance or applicability. Ludwig's AI confirms this with numerous examples across various reputable sources, including news, encyclopedias and scientific publications. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, writers should ensure the context clearly explains the reason for the shift in relevance. Alternatives like "lost its relevance" or "became unimportant" may be suitable depending on the desired nuance. By understanding these aspects, writers can effectively use the expression in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lost its relevance

Emphasizes the action of losing relevance rather than the state of being irrelevant.

lost its significance

Highlights the disappearance of importance or meaning.

became unimportant

Highlights the decrease in importance or significance.

became inconsequential

Highlights the lack of consequence or impact.

ceased to matter

Focuses on the lack of significance or consequence.

became outdated

Similar to "became obsolete", indicating something is no longer current or useful.

became obsolete

Suggests that something is outdated and no longer useful.

was no longer applicable

Focuses on the lack of applicability or suitability.

faded into insignificance

Indicates a gradual decline in importance or visibility.

lost traction

Implies a loss of momentum or popularity.

FAQs

How can I use "became irrelevant" in a sentence?

You can use "became irrelevant" to indicate that something once important is no longer so. For example, "His skills "became irrelevant" after the company automated the process."

What are some alternatives to saying "became irrelevant"?

Alternatives include "lost its relevance", "became unimportant", or "ceased to matter" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "become irrelevant" instead of "became irrelevant"?

No, "become irrelevant" is the infinitive form. The past tense requires "became irrelevant" to indicate that something already lost its relevance.

What's the difference between "became irrelevant" and "became obsolete"?

"Became irrelevant" suggests something is no longer important or applicable, while "became obsolete" specifically implies that something is outdated and no longer in use. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize a loss of importance or a lack of current usability.