become unresponsive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become unresponsive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe something that stops responding, for example: After a few hours, the computer suddenly became unresponsive.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

How did urban schools become unresponsive bureaucracies that fail to educate most of their students?

Princeton University

Subcontractor Vocus denies the fourth DDoS attack caused the site to become unresponsive.

The Guardian

When the melatonin receptors in the brain are exposed to too much of the hormone, they become unresponsive.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

On my neurology rotation, I was sent to examine a little boy in the ICU who had become unresponsive.

Stanford University

The number of patients with advanced heart failure that has become unresponsive to conventional medical therapy is increasing rapidly.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

If there is enough data, even the largest Web services buckle under the load and become unresponsive.

The New York Times - Science

It is alleged the man gave the baby girl a single OxyContin tablet on Sunday before ringing emergency services when she began to become unresponsive.

The Guardian

The suit targets "Apple's concealment of a material manufacturing defect that ultimately causes iPhone touchscreens to become unresponsive and fail for their essential purpose as smartphones".

The Guardian - Tech

Many voters feel that Indian democracy, and in particular the major parties, the Congress Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, have become unresponsive and captive to interest groups.

The New York Times

That is because the campaign encourages bystanders to pitch in when they see an adult collapse from cardiac arrest and become unresponsive.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Surprisingly, rather than becoming hyper-proliferative, PAG-suppressed T cells became unresponsive.

Cell Communication and Signaling

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical issues, use "become unresponsive" to clearly indicate that a device or system has stopped responding to input. This term is widely understood in IT and engineering contexts.

Common error

While "become unresponsive" is suitable for technical or medical descriptions, it may sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "stopped working" or "froze" when speaking informally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become unresponsive" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating a change of state. It describes the process of losing the ability to react or respond to stimuli. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "become unresponsive" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase signifying a loss of reactivity or response. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears predominantly in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While appropriate for neutral and formal settings, simpler alternatives may be preferred in casual conversation. Remember that accurately using "become unresponsive" helps convey precise meaning when discussing technical malfunctions, medical conditions, or any situation where a loss of response is critical. The phrase indicates a transition to a state where reaction ceases, as highlighted by numerous examples across diverse authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop responding

Focuses on the cessation of reaction or answer.

lose responsiveness

Highlights the loss of the ability to react.

cease to react

Emphasizes the termination of any reaction.

go offline

Suggests a disconnection or cessation of activity, particularly in a technological context.

shut down

Implies a complete cessation of operation.

become inactive

Indicates a state of no longer being active or operational.

become insensible

Refers to a loss of sensation or awareness.

become insensitive

Implies a lack of emotional or physical sensitivity.

fail to respond

Highlights the inability to provide a reaction.

become dormant

Suggests a temporary state of inactivity.

FAQs

How can I use "become unresponsive" in a sentence?

You can use "become unresponsive" to describe a system, person, or part of the body that stops reacting as expected. For example: "The computer "became unresponsive" after the power outage" or "The patient "became unresponsive" during the medical procedure".

What's the difference between "become unresponsive" and "stop responding"?

"Become unresponsive" suggests a gradual or sudden loss of reaction, while ""stop responding"" indicates a complete cessation of reaction. The two phrases are very similar and often interchangeable.

What are some synonyms for "become unresponsive"?

Synonyms include "lose responsiveness", "cease to react", "go offline", or "shut down depending on the context".

Is it correct to say "becomes unresponsive" instead of "become unresponsive"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but the correct tense depends on the subject. Use "becomes unresponsive" for singular subjects and "become unresponsive" for plural subjects.