collided with a tree

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collided with a tree" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an incident where a vehicle or object struck a tree, often in the context of an accident. Example: "The car lost control on the icy road and collided with a tree, causing significant damage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Michael Molloy, 18, died when the vehicle he was a passenger in left the A3 in Surrey late on Monday night and collided with a tree.

Independent

A double-decker bus collided with a tree near Tower Bridge in central London today, killing one person and injuring at least 18.

The Guardian

The incident happened at 9.23am when a No 188 bus collided with a tree at the junction of Tower Bridge Road and Tanner Street.

The Guardian

The number 91 bus collided with a tree on Kingsway in Holborn, near Aldwych, on Monday afternoon, leaving the vehicle severely damaged with the roof hanging off the back, surrounded by shattered glass.

Independent

Ken Davidson, TfL's Head of Bus Operations, said: "At around 1pm today a route 91 bus, operated by Metroline, collided with a tree on Kingsway at the junction with Portugal Street.

Independent

The accident happened when the silver Ford Focus the couple were travelling in collided with a tree on the A1023, Brook Street, Brentwood.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

A Met Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called at 2.27am on Sunday to reports of a car on fire after colliding with a tree on the Old Kent Road.

Independent

A motorcyclist died after colliding with a tree, whereupon a demonstration by grieving motards turned into a revenge mission: the chain saws came out, and a hundred plane trees, ninety-nine of them guilty by association, were levelled.

The New Yorker

He collides with a tree and falls from the hoverjet, but is saved by Gordon, who shoots the oncoming alligator before it catches up with Alan.

Wikipedia

Then there is the obligatory writhing, kicking and screaming when I scoop him up in my arms to prevent him from waddling into the street, introducing his face to someone's legs or colliding with a tree.

Huffington Post

It is not uncommon for people to swerve to miss a small animal and end up colliding with a tree or another car.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing accidents, use "collided with a tree" to clearly indicate the object struck a stationary tree. Be specific about the vehicle or object involved in the collision for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice constructions like "the tree was collided with". This obscures who or what caused the collision. Instead, use the active voice: "the car collided with a tree".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collided with a tree" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating an event where an object forcefully struck a tree. Ludwig examples show its usage in describing accidents involving vehicles or other objects.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "collided with a tree" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe an impact between an object and a tree. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's mostly found in news and general contexts such as accident reporting. To enhance clarity, use the active voice and specify the object involved. While alternatives like "crashed into a tree" and "struck a tree" exist, "collided with a tree" provides a neutral and widely understood way to describe such events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collided against a tree

Uses "against" instead of "with", but the meaning remains the same.

crashed into a tree

Replaces "collided with" with a more forceful verb, "crashed into", implying a more violent impact.

hit a tree

Uses the simpler and more direct verb "hit".

struck a tree

Uses a more general verb, "struck", which can refer to any kind of impact.

ran into a tree

Suggests a forward motion leading to the collision.

impacted a tree

Replaces "collided with" with the word "impacted", providing a more formal tone.

smashed into a tree

Emphasizes the force of the impact, suggesting a more destructive collision.

sideswiped a tree

Describes a collision where the side of something hits the tree.

bumped into a tree

Implies a lighter, less forceful collision.

brushed against a tree

Suggests a very light, glancing contact.

FAQs

What does "collided with a tree" mean?

The phrase "collided with a tree" describes an event where something, typically a vehicle, crashes into a tree. It suggests an accidental or unintentional impact.

What can I say instead of "collided with a tree"?

You can use alternatives like "crashed into a tree", "struck a tree", or "hit a tree" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the car was collided with a tree"?

No, "the car was collided with a tree" is grammatically incorrect and sounds awkward. The correct phrasing is "the car collided with a tree", which uses the active voice.

What is the difference between "collided with a tree" and "collided against a tree"?

Both "collided with a tree" and "collided against a tree" are acceptable, but "collided with a tree" is more common. The preposition "with" is generally preferred in this context.