become concerned by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become concerned by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that someone is starting to feel worry or anxiety about a particular issue or situation. Example: "As the deadline approached, the team began to become concerned by the lack of progress on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But in recent years the government has become concerned by the situation in Somalia, particularly the terror threat posed by al-Qaida-affiliated insurgents.

The Guardian

In the past two years, family campaigners have become concerned by an estimated 40percentnt increase in the number of British users who are regularly accessing hardcore porn and paedophilic material on the Internet.

The Guardian

"We have become concerned by comments from both OmniVision and Micron executives about camera phone unit sales in coming years," it said.

Forbes

Kinner, who has an extensive criminal record across several states, had been living temporarily at the apartment complex with another resident but had been asked to leave Friday after neighbors had become concerned by his behavior, police said.

Huffington Post

For example, investigators who study endocrine disruptors have become concerned by the presence of agents in laboratory animal diets that may mimic estrogens (Boettger-Tong et al. 1998).

Environmental Health Perspectives

In the US, it appears that increasing delays in the approval process are partially due to a lack of trained regulatory personnel, as well as regulators' tendency to become concerned by negative anecdotal studies.

European Radiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Police were called after staff in his supported accommodation became concerned by his behaviour.

The Guardian

Edward Emerson, the son of Ralph Waldo, became concerned by the misconceptions that surrounded his friend — the kind that Schulz perpetuates.

The New Yorker

Edward Emerson, the son of Ralph Waldo, became concerned by the misconceptions that surrounded his friend the kind that Schulz perpetuates.

The New Yorker

But several executives said that Kozmo's senior management became concerned by the middle of the week.

The New York Times

The team of consultants was assembled by Felix Bryanin, a politically connected Russian-American businessman who became concerned by the Communist party's gains in the 1996 parliamentary elections.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "become concerned by" when you want to express that someone is beginning to feel worried about something specific, often due to new information or developments.

Common error

Avoid constructing overly passive sentences when using "become concerned by". Ensure the subject of the sentence is clear and the action is directly linked to their concern. For example, instead of "Issues became concerned by", use "Analysts became concerned by issues."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become concerned by" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of developing worry or anxiety, where the preposition 'by' typically introduces the cause or source of the concern. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "become concerned by" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that indicates the beginning of worry or anxiety, often triggered by a specific event or information. Ludwig AI confirms this. While it is less common than "become concerned about", it is suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in news and media, where the source of concern is being highlighted. Alternatives include "start to worry about" or "grow anxious about". When using the phrase, ensure that the subject and object are clear to avoid passive constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

start to worry about

Focuses on the initial stage of worry, similar to becoming concerned.

grow anxious about

Emphasizes the increasing level of anxiety regarding something.

get worried by

A more informal way of expressing the same sentiment.

develop misgivings about

Highlights the development of doubts or apprehensions.

feel uneasy about

Conveys a sense of discomfort or restlessness about a situation.

begin to fear

Indicates the start of feeling fear related to something.

take alarm at

Implies a sudden and strong feeling of worry or fear.

be apprehensive of

Expresses anticipation of adversity or misfortune.

view with concern

Indicates a more formal and detached worry about a matter.

lose sleep over

Conveys a more intense sense of worry that disrupts sleep.

FAQs

What does "become concerned by" mean?

The phrase "become concerned by" signifies that a person or group is beginning to feel worried or anxious about something, typically due to new or emerging information or circumstances.

Is it better to say "become concerned about" or "become concerned by"?

Both "become concerned about" and "become concerned by" are grammatically correct. "Become concerned about" is more common, while "become concerned by" often implies that a specific event or piece of information triggered the concern.

What are some alternatives to "become concerned by"?

You can use alternatives like "start to worry about", "grow anxious about", or "get worried by" depending on the context.

How do I use "become concerned by" in a sentence?

Use "become concerned by" to indicate the cause or trigger of someone's worry. For example, "The residents "became concerned by" the rising floodwaters."