canceled

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'canceled' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to having canceled something or having been canceled. Example: The picnic was canceled due to the rain.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The boxing competition was canceled by the Swedish organizers, who found the sport disagreeable; this cancellation, along with controversial officiating at earlier Olympics, prompted the IOC to greatly curtail the role of local organizing groups after 1912.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, more than 100 flights were canceled, according to FlightStats.com, and crowds were sparse on Monday morning as travelers made alternate plans.

The Guardian

American canceled their Monday morning flight, too, and they weren't happy as they sat in the international lobby.

The Guardian

But the flight for the other half of the band was canceled because of the ice, leaving them stranded for an extra day in Hawaii.

The Guardian

Their flight home on Sunday to Jacksonville, Florida was canceled and on Monday the best they could do was a late-afternoon flight to Tampa.

The Guardian

The former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Indiana governor Mike Pence canceled their appearances; declared presidential candidate Rand Paul, who supports a rival gun group, was not invited.

The Guardian

Empire is now the cornerstone of a lineup that, this fall, will include a series based on the Tom Cruise movie Minority Report, a show from the creators of American Horror Story called Scream Queens (starring Jamie Lee Curtis) and a Rob Lowe comedy called The Grinder, about the star of a canceled reality series.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Organizers announced on Facebook that all events were canceled for the weekend.

The Guardian

Karen Pride, a spokeswoman for Chicago's aviation department, said Tuesday that some 125 flights at O'Hare had been canceled.

The Guardian

The shows in Canada were the comedian's first since November when a string of performances were canceled over the accusations.

The Guardian

At New York's Penn Station, Cicero Goncalves was waiting for a train to Vermont, where he was going snowboarding, because he expected the flight he had hoped to take would be canceled.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "canceled" when you need to clearly state that a planned event or activity will not occur. Be sure to communicate the reason for cancellation if possible to manage expectations and reduce confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "canceled" when an event is only delayed. "Postponed" is the correct term to use if the event is intended to be rescheduled at a later date. Using "canceled" implies the event will not happen at all.

Linguistic Context

The word "canceled" primarily functions as a past participle of the verb "cancel", indicating a completed action of stopping or terminating something. It can also serve as an adjective, describing something that has been stopped or terminated, as evidenced by the examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

43%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "canceled" is a common and grammatically correct word used to indicate that something has been stopped or terminated. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts. As the examples show, "canceled" appears frequently in news and encyclopedia sources, maintaining a neutral register. When writing, be mindful not to confuse "canceled" with "postponed", and choose it to communicate termination, while the latter refers to rescheduling. Numerous alternative phrases, such as "called off" or "terminated", can be used for variety, but "canceled" remains a clear and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

called off

Replaces "canceled" with a phrasal verb indicating abandonment of a planned event.

terminated

Implies a formal and definitive end, similar to "canceled" in formal contexts.

abandoned

Suggests a more complete and possibly less formal termination than "canceled".

rescinded

Specifically refers to the revocation of a law, order, or agreement.

revoked

Similar to 'rescinded', but applicable to permissions or licenses.

discontinued

Refers to stopping something that was ongoing or regularly happening.

nullified

Indicates something has been made void or without legal force.

voided

Similar to "nullified", implying that something is no longer valid or effective.

scrapped

Suggests that something was discarded or abandoned, often in an informal setting.

postponed indefinitely

Indicates that an event has been delayed without a specific future date.

FAQs

How is "canceled" used in a sentence?

The word "canceled" is used to indicate that a planned event or activity has been stopped or terminated. For example, "The concert was canceled due to the storm."

What are some alternatives to saying "canceled"?

You can use alternatives like "called off", "abandoned", or "terminated", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "canceled" and "cancelled" interchangeably?

"Canceled" and "cancelled" are both correct, but "canceled" is more common in American English, while "cancelled" is more common in British English.

What is the difference between "canceled" and "postponed"?

"Canceled" means an event will not happen, while "postponed" means the event will be rescheduled for a later time.