becomes inactive

USAGE SUMMARY

"becomes inactive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an object, person, behavior, or system that has switched from being active to inactive. For example, "Once the sun sets, the playground becomes inactive until morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Replace or reactivate the desiccant when it becomes inactive.

Cornell University

If the last administrator for a workgroup becomes inactive, they will be removed.

Stanford University

If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum becomes inactive after 10 14 days, and menstruation occurs.

Britannica

When the account becomes inactive, your designees are notified and receive the content you chose to share.

The New York Times - Tech

Consequently, the ODC active site, which is composed of residues at the interface of the homodimer, is disrupted and ODC becomes inactive.

Nature

Once an alias becomes inactive, it is reserved for at least two years, during which time it can be re-used only by its original owner.

Stanford University

When the frame moves toward its equilibrium position, the device becomes inactive and provides no obstacle to the movement of the structure.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

After you use one to log in, it becomes inactive and you move on to the next one when you need to check your Gmail account again.

The New York Times - Tech

Since 2009, however, Bhatia's group has used her model system, in which liver cells can survive for up to a month, to study the process by which the parasite becomes inactive.

MIT Technology Review

If you do not enroll for one year (fall, spring, summer), your candidate status becomes inactive and you'll lose many degree privileges, including ID card and Harvard e-mail account privileges.

Harvard University

It was also not clear what meetings Mr. Sharon planned to attend, since the trip was still more than two weeks away, the Israeli government generally becomes inactive during the High Holy Days, and the violence has been at a low ebb.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process or system, use "becomes inactive" to clearly indicate a transition from an active state to a state of inactivity, ensuring clarity and precision in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "becomes inactive" when you actually mean something is broken or malfunctioning. "Becomes inactive" suggests a planned or natural cessation of activity, not a fault.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "becomes inactive" primarily functions as a predicate in a sentence. It describes a state change, indicating that a subject is transitioning from an active state to an inactive one. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

24%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "becomes inactive" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to denote a transition from an active state to an inactive one. The phrase is versatile, appearing across diverse fields such as science, news media, and academia. While its tone is generally neutral, it leans towards formal in scientific and technical contexts. To ensure clarity, avoid confusing it with terms like "is broken", which implies a malfunction rather than a planned or natural state change. Remember that "become inactive" is the correct conjugation for plural subjects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is deactivated

Implies a deliberate act of rendering something inactive, often through a specific mechanism.

ceases to function

A formal way of stating that something stops working or performing its intended purpose.

turns non-operational

This phrase emphasizes a cessation of functioning, often due to a mechanical or technical fault.

is rendered inoperative

Highlights the result of an action that prevents something from operating.

goes dormant

Suggests a temporary state of inactivity, often with the potential for reactivation.

lapses into inactivity

Conveys a gradual decline into a state of being inactive.

is shut down

This alternative is more common when something is turned off deliberately.

enters a quiescent state

This phrase describes a condition of inactivity or rest. This phrase is more common in scientific contexts.

is switched off

Simple and direct way to describe the action of turning something off.

powers down

This alternative is commonly used when describing the action of turning off a machine or device.

FAQs

How can I use "becomes inactive" in a sentence?

You can use "becomes inactive" to describe something that transitions from an active state to an inactive one. For example, "The screen saver "becomes inactive" when the mouse is moved".

What's a good substitute for "becomes inactive"?

Depending on the context, alternatives like "is deactivated", "goes dormant", or "ceases to function" may be appropriate.

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

"Become inactive" is used with plural subjects or with 'I' and 'you', while "becomes inactive" is used with singular subjects in the third person (he, she, it). For example, "They become inactive" versus "It becomes inactive".

What is the difference between "becomes inactive" and "is disabled"?

"Becomes inactive" describes a state change, while "is disabled" implies an external action has rendered something inactive. For instance, a feature might "becomes inactive" due to lack of use, whereas it "is disabled" by user settings.