gone viral

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gone viral" is correct and commonly used in both spoken and written English.
It is typically used to describe something that has become extremely popular or widely shared on the internet or social media. Example: "The video of the dancing cat has gone viral, with millions of views and shares on social media." Another example: "Her post about her travel experiences has gone viral, with people from all over the world commenting and sharing their own stories."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Organizations have gone viral.

The New York Times

Bumbaclot' has gone viral.

Independent

It's gone viral – crazy!

The Guardian

Her talks have gone viral.

The New York Times

Now Thailand has gone viral.

The New York Times

My book had gone viral.

The Guardian

Religious faith has gone viral.

The Guardian - Books

His defiance has gone viral.

The Guardian

Going viral has gone viral.

The Guardian

Her campaign has gone viral.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This is cupcake culture gone viral".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gone viral" to describe content that has spread rapidly and extensively through online platforms. Ensure the context clearly indicates the widespread nature of the dissemination.

Common error

Avoid using "gone viral" for content that has only received moderate attention. Reserve it for situations where there is clear evidence of widespread sharing and engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gone viral" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state of a noun (e.g., a video, a post) after it has experienced rapid and widespread dissemination online. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage, as shown in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gone viral" is a commonly used and grammatically correct idiom to describe something that has rapidly spread across the internet, achieving widespread popularity. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from reputable sources such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC. It's important to use the phrase accurately, reserving it for content with demonstrably high levels of online engagement. While alternatives like "become widespread" or "gained immense popularity" exist, "gone viral" succinctly conveys the speed and scope of online dissemination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieved viral status

Rephrases the concept using a more formal tone.

become an internet sensation

Highlights the object's status as a popular online phenomenon.

become a trending topic

Focuses on its position in online conversations and news.

become widespread

Emphasizes the breadth of dissemination rather than the speed.

circulated rapidly online

Focuses on the speed and medium of distribution.

spread like wildfire

Uses a simile to highlight the rapid and uncontrollable spread.

gained immense popularity

Focuses on the high level of public interest and acceptance.

exploded in popularity

Implies a sudden and dramatic surge in popularity.

taken the internet by storm

Emphasizes the significant impact on the online community.

attracted considerable attention

Highlights the degree of attention received.

FAQs

How can I use "gone viral" in a sentence?

You can use "gone viral" to describe something that has become very popular and spread quickly on the internet, like "The video of the dog playing the piano has "gone viral"."

What are some alternatives to saying "gone viral"?

Instead of saying "gone viral", you could use phrases like "become widespread", "gained immense popularity", or "spread like wildfire" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "gone viral"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "gone viral" is a commonly accepted idiom that describes something rapidly spreading across the internet.

What does it mean for something to "go viral"?

When something "goes viral", it means that it spreads rapidly and widely across the internet, typically through social media and online sharing. It becomes very popular in a short amount of time.