could not be revived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could not be revived" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something or someone could not be brought back to life or restored to a previous state. Example: "Despite the efforts of the medical team, the patient could not be revived after the cardiac arrest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

He could not be revived.

The New York Times

The battery, which had fully discharged, could not be revived.

The New York Times

And duck breast could not be revived, even with a good lingonberry sauce.

The New York Times

An hour later, she was pulled out, but could not be revived.

The New York Times

She was then brought back on to the boat but could not be revived.

The Guardian

His body was found in the water and he could not be revived.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

An ambulance was called, but Jonuzi couldn't be revived.

Vice

(Though there's nothing to say he couldn't be revived, with a simple swap of spectacles).

Los Angeles Times

She couldn't be revived, but Shannon's rescue effort made it possible for the girl's organs to be donated.

Huffington Post

"Without security, Gafsa will not be revived.

Independent

Benneteau received a vigorous massage but could not be fully revived, allowing Federer to sweep into the last 16 for the eighth year in a row.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "could not be revived", ensure the context clearly indicates a situation where attempts were made to restore life or functionality but were unsuccessful. This phrase is often used in medical or technical contexts to describe irreversible conditions.

Common error

Avoid using "could not be revived" in situations where a simpler phrase like "could not be fixed" or "could not be restarted" would be more appropriate. Overusing dramatic language can diminish its impact when describing truly irreversible events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could not be revived" functions as a predicate in a sentence, typically describing the unsuccessful attempt to restore life or functionality to a subject. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase follows a subject and a linking verb, indicating a state of irreversibility.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could not be revived" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe irreversible situations, particularly those involving failed attempts to restore life or function. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, predominantly news and scientific reporting, where conveying finality and the unsuccessful nature of restoration efforts is crucial. While alternatives exist, such as ""could not be resuscitated"" or ""was beyond revival"", the original phrase remains a clear and effective way to communicate the lack of recovery.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not be resuscitated

Focuses specifically on medical attempts to restore breathing and heartbeat.

could not be brought back to life

Emphasizes the finality of death and the inability to reverse it.

proved impossible to revive

Highlights the impossibility or difficulty in restoring someone or something.

was beyond revival

Suggests the situation exceeded the possibility of recovery.

efforts to revive were unsuccessful

Details the lack of success in restorative attempts.

all attempts to revive failed

Similar to the above, highlighting a comprehensive failure despite effort.

could not be restored

General term for inability to bring something back to its original condition.

was irretrievable

Implies a point of no return, making recovery impossible.

could not be awakened

Focuses on waking someone from unconsciousness, often implying a deeper problem.

recovery was not possible

Indicates that retrieving or improving a situation to a better state was unachievable.

FAQs

How can I use "could not be revived" in a sentence?

This phrase is typically used to describe situations where someone or something has died or become irreparably damaged despite attempts to restore it. For example: "The patient suffered a cardiac arrest and "could not be revived" despite the medical team's efforts."

What are some alternatives to "could not be revived"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "could not be resuscitated" (for medical situations), "could not be restored" (for objects), or "was beyond revival".

Is it more appropriate to say "could not be revived" or "could not revive"?

"Could not be revived" is a passive construction, indicating that an action was performed on someone or something, but it failed. "Could not revive" is an active construction where someone or something lacked the ability to be revived. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the action or the inherent state.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "could not be revived"?

Avoid using "could not be revived" in informal or trivial contexts where a less dramatic phrase would suffice. For instance, saying "the plant "could not be revived"" after forgetting to water it may be an overstatement; "the plant died" would be more fitting.