been activated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been activated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been turned on or set into operation, often in a technical or procedural context. Example: "The security system has been activated to ensure the safety of the premises."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The 2007 eruption may have been activated by magmatic activity at depth.

Earth, Planets and Space

Crisis management plans have been activated.

The New York Times

Too many foreclosures have already been activated.

The New York Times

The four phones at the train station have been activated.

The New York Times

Jennifer's hormones have evidently been activated by this.

The New York Times - Arts

How obvious was it that Leiter had been activated?

The New York Times - Sports

Even during Vietnam, my reserve unit hadn't been activated, the recruiters had told me.

The New York Times - Magazine

She would not say whether it had been activated as required by airline policy.

The New York Times

The app cannot be re-set once it's been activated, even if you delete the application.

The Guardian

We were filming at a nuclear power plant that had never been activated.

The Guardian - Film

Flood defences have been activated at Colne in Essex and in Hull.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "been activated" to convey that a system, feature, or protocol has been initialized or set in motion.

Common error

Avoid using "been activated" when the active voice is more appropriate. For example, instead of "The program has been activated by the user", consider "The user activated the program" for a more direct and concise statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been activated" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something has undergone the process of activation. This usage is supported by Ludwig, highlighting its grammatical correctness and common occurrence in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "been activated" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the state of something being set into operation or made active. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a passive construction with the purpose of informing about a change in state. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, science, and general media, making it a versatile phrase for both formal and informal communication. While Ludwig indicates correctness, it's crucial to consider the active voice for more direct communication, avoiding overuse of passive constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been initiated

Focuses more on the start of something rather than its active state.

has been triggered

Implies a specific event caused the activation.

has been enabled

Highlights the permission or capability aspect of activation.

has been set in motion

Emphasizes the beginning of a process or action.

has been put into operation

A more formal way of saying something has started working.

has become operational

Highlights the transition to a functional state.

has been turned on

A simpler and more direct way to indicate activation, especially for devices.

has been launched

Often used when referring to the start of a project or product.

has commenced functioning

A formal way of saying something has begun to work.

is now in effect

Implies that a rule or system is now active and influencing things.

FAQs

How can I use "been activated" in a sentence?

You can use "been activated" to indicate that something has been started or set into operation. For example, "The emergency response plan has "been activated" following the earthquake."

What are some alternatives to "been activated"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "been initiated", "been enabled", or "been triggered".

Is it correct to say "was activated" instead of "been activated"?

Both "was activated" and "been activated" are grammatically correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Was activated" is used in the simple past tense, while "been activated" is used in the present perfect or past perfect tenses. For example, "The system was activated yesterday" vs. "The system has "been activated" and is now running."

What's the difference between "activated" and "been activated"?

"Activated" is the past participle form used in the active voice (e.g., "The user activated the system"), while ""been activated"" is the passive voice form (e.g., "The system has "been activated""). The passive voice emphasizes the object that undergoes the action.