being fired upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being fired upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts involving military or conflict situations where someone is under attack or being shot at. Example: "The soldiers reported being fired upon while on patrol in the conflict zone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

They did say they were being fired upon.

The Guardian - Opinion

What we want is freedom, to be able to protest in peace without being fired upon".

The New Yorker

Twelve days after being fired upon, he was back at the White House looking sensational.

The New York Times - Books

JERUSALEM — One of her fellow soldiers lay dead, and her Humvee was being fired upon.

The New York Times

Under current rules, South Koreans can only shoot after being fired upon.

The New York Times

The Shehadahs also passed the checkpoint after a search, before being fired upon.

The New York Times

The Indian Navy has defended its actions, saying that it fired only after being fired upon.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

"But when our forces are fired upon, as they are routinely, then they have no option but to return fire".

The New York Times

It had been fired upon.

The New York Times

A night patrol is fired upon.

The Economist

"He could have been fired upon.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "being fired upon" to clearly and precisely describe situations where someone is under direct gunfire. This phrase is especially useful in formal reports or when documenting incidents.

Common error

Avoid using "being fired upon" interchangeably with similar phrases like "under fire" if the context requires specifying the act of shooting. "Under fire" can be more general, implying any form of attack or criticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being fired upon" functions as a passive verb phrase. It describes the state of a subject that is receiving gunfire. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

19%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science & Research

4%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "being fired upon" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive verb phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It succinctly describes a situation where a subject is under gunfire, typically indicating a hostile or dangerous context. While the phrase is suitable for neutral register, it is most commonly found in news reports, encyclopedias and formal documentation where precise descriptions are necessary. For less formal communication, alternatives like "under attack" or "being shot at" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

coming under fire

Replaces passive voice with a more direct action description.

under attack

Simplifies the phrase by removing the specific action of firing.

being shot at

Uses a more common and less formal way to say the same thing.

subjected to gunfire

Emphasizes the state of being subjected to the action.

targeted by gunfire

Focuses on the intent behind the firing.

experiencing hostile fire

Uses more formal language to describe the situation.

receiving enemy fire

Highlights the adversarial nature of the situation.

encountering gunfire

Describes the act of facing gunfire.

in the line of fire

Indicates a position of vulnerability during shooting.

facing armed assault

Broadens the scope to include any type of armed attack.

FAQs

How to use "being fired upon" in a sentence?

You can use "being fired upon" to describe a situation where someone is under attack. For example: "The soldiers reported "being fired upon" while on patrol."

What can I say instead of "being fired upon"?

You can use alternatives like "under attack", "being shot at", or "coming under fire" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "being fired upon"?

"Being fired upon" is appropriate when you need to specifically convey the action of someone shooting at someone else. It is often used in formal or official reports to precisely describe events.

What's the difference between "being fired upon" and "under fire"?

"Being fired upon" specifically means someone is shooting at you. "Under fire" can be more general, referring to any form of attack, criticism, or pressure, not necessarily involving gunfire.