face adopted an expression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "face adopted an expression" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a change in someone's facial expression, often in response to emotions or thoughts. Example: "As she listened to the news, her face adopted an expression of disbelief."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then his face adopted a distinguished expression and he spoke: "Whether you ever get to say that to that 13-year-old girl is as irrelevant as it is uncertain.

Science Magazine

At this, the girl adopted a stern expression.

The New Yorker

"She's shaking her head," says Brunt, pointing at the ECB's press officer who has adopted a stern expression.

The Guardian - Sport

Back in late 2016, Facebook showed off its "VR emoji gestures," which let users shake their fists to turn their avatar's face mad, or shrug their shoulders to adopt a confused expression.

TechCrunch

The future chancellor quickly adopted a poker face.

The New York Times

The teacher grew agitated; the future chancellor quickly adopted a poker face.

The New York Times

But as your audience nod their heads enthusiastically, you adopt a pained expression and shake yours.

The Guardian

Instead, Mr. Bloomberg adopted an exasperated, welcome-to-my-world expression.

The New York Times

The desire of North Korea's young to adopt an independent look continues to find expression in a variety of ways.

The Guardian

Two sets of colour facial photographs of Caucasian males who were facing forward, and told to adopt a neutral, relaxed expression were employed in this study.

Plosone

Forth, we adopted a dual approach of data collection by using both face to face and telephone interviews at follow ups.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "face adopted an expression" when you want to emphasize a deliberate or noticeable change in someone's facial expression. It's particularly effective in descriptive writing to convey emotions or reactions.

Common error

Avoid using "face adopted an expression" too frequently in your writing. Vary your descriptions of facial expressions by using synonyms like "took on", "displayed", or more specific verbs that capture the emotion directly, such as "smiled", "frowned", or "grimaced".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face adopted an expression" functions as a descriptive element within a sentence, typically modifying a subject (person/character). It characterizes a transition in facial appearance to reflect a specific emotional state or reaction. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "face adopted an expression" is grammatically correct and functions as a descriptive element, depicting a change in facial expression to reflect an emotional state. Ludwig AI validates its usability, although its occurrence is limited, as seen through the lack of examples. While there are no highly authoritative sources showing instances of its usage, it maintains a neutral register suitable for descriptive writing across various contexts. Alternative expressions like "face took on an expression" or "face displayed an expression" can enhance writing by providing similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

face assumed an expression

Replaces "adopted" with "assumed", maintaining a similar meaning of taking on an expression.

face took on an expression

Substitutes "adopted" with "took on", providing a slightly more dynamic sense of change.

face displayed an expression

Uses "displayed" instead of "adopted", focusing on the visibility of the expression.

face betrayed an expression

Emphasizes that the expression reveals something, often unintentionally.

expression crossed their face

Shifts the focus to the movement of the expression appearing briefly.

face revealed an emotion

Replaces "expression" with "emotion", highlighting the underlying feeling.

face mirrored an emotion

Suggests the face is reflecting an emotion, either consciously or unconsciously.

countenance changed

Uses a more formal term, "countenance", to describe the change in facial appearance.

features shifted

Focuses on the movement and rearrangement of facial features to convey an expression.

a look came over their face

Emphasizes a sudden change in facial appearance.

FAQs

How can I describe a change in facial expression instead of saying "face adopted an expression"?

Alternatives include "face took on an expression", "face displayed an expression", or "expression crossed their face", depending on the context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "face adopted an expression" a formal or informal way to describe someone's facial expression?

The phrase is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might consider more sophisticated vocabulary.

What emotions or situations is "face adopted an expression" best suited to describe?

It's suitable for describing a wide range of emotions or reactions. However, it works best when the change in expression is noticeable or deliberate.

Are there any specific grammatical rules I should keep in mind when using the phrase "face adopted an expression"?

Ensure that the subject's "face" is clearly identified and that the sentence flows logically. For instance, "As she listened to the news, her face adopted an expression of disbelief" is grammatically sound.