became worried

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "became worried" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone felt a sense of anxiety or concern. For example: "As the storm clouds grew darker, Laura became worried that her picnic would be ruined."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The PCT became worried.

The Guardian

Bowles also became worried.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Mr. Modell continued: "I became worried.

The New York Times - Arts

But minority investors soon became worried by Renault's tactics.

The Economist

While meditating, she felt dissociated from herself and became worried.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He became worried when on June 22 the N.Y.

The New Yorker

He did not sound very coherent and I became worried.

The Guardian

But when suddenly in June 1975 earthquakes started to happen under the reservoir, authorities became worried.

University of California, Berkeley

The money bounced back, but Thatcher soon learnt of the manoeuvre and became worried.

The Guardian

Her two daughters, Jeniece, 19, and Jelisa, 12, also became worried.

The New York Times

"But over time, they became worried that he was pursuing an ideological agenda".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add nuance, follow "became worried" with a specific reason or explanation of the cause of the worry. For example: "She became worried when he didn't return her calls."

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "became worried" in passive constructions can make your writing sound weak. Opt for more active verbs or rephrase to show agency. Instead of "He became worried by the news", try "The news worried him."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "became worried" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a change in emotional state. It describes the process of someone starting to experience worry or concern. Ludwig examples illustrate its common usage in describing reactions to events or situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "became worried" is a versatile and frequently used way to describe the onset of concern or anxiety. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts, especially in News & Media. When using this phrase, consider adding specific details about the cause of the worry to provide context and impact. While "became worried" is generally acceptable, be mindful of potential overuse and explore alternatives like "grew concerned" or "started to fret" to diversify your writing. Remember to avoid passive voice constructions for a stronger, more engaging style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grew concerned

This option is slightly more formal and emphasizes concern rather than just worry compared to "became worried".

grew anxious

This alternative suggests a gradual increase in anxiety, similar to "became worried" but emphasizes the growing feeling.

turned apprehensive

Emphasizes a feeling of unease and anticipation of something negative, which is a more formal way to say "became worried".

started to fret

Implies a more agitated and nervous form of worry compared to "became worried".

got uneasy

This alternative describes a feeling of discomfort or restlessness and suggest a low-level worry compared to "became worried".

started to fear

This alternative highlights a stronger sense of apprehension and fear, rather than just worry, compared to "became worried".

developed anxiety

This phrase suggests a more profound and possibly lasting feeling of anxiety compared to "became worried".

found oneself worried

This phrase puts emphasis on an action of self discovery and can be used instead of "became worried".

felt trepidation

Implies a more formal and intense feeling of fear or anxiety about something that might happen, compared to "became worried".

were perturbed

This alternative is more formal and indicates a state of being disturbed or unsettled compared to "became worried".

FAQs

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

Use "became worried" to indicate the onset of concern or anxiety. For instance, "The teacher became worried about the student's declining grades."

What are some alternatives to "became worried"?

You can use alternatives like "grew anxious", "grew concerned", or "started to fret" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "became worried" or "was worried"?

"Became worried" indicates the process of starting to feel worry, while "was worried" describes a state of being worried. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the transition or the state.

What's the difference between "became worried" and "became anxious"?

While similar, "became worried" generally implies a lighter level of concern, whereas "became anxious" suggests a deeper state of unease and apprehension.