got denied

USAGE SUMMARY

"got denied" is correct and usable in written English.
You would typically use it when someone has requested something, but has been refused. For example, "I asked my boss for a pay rise, but I got denied."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

People are really shocked to hear that they got denied because they don't have enough money to pay their bills.

The Guardian - Money

People apply and they get denied and they don't know why they got denied and they can't understand the letters that they were sent and they just assumed that they can't have the benefits.

The Guardian - Money

That story also got denied by Huawei.

TechCrunch

But the California-based software engineer took the knockback from Twitter with good humour, tweeting: "Got denied by Twitter HQ.

BBC

You won't be allowed to resubmit your age immediately, for example to say "Oh, I entered that I'm 17 and got denied.

TechCrunch

We had both auditioned, got denied.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Large numbers of loan applications get denied.

The Washington Post

He said he believes getting denied for these cards are the exception rather than the rule.

The New York Times

In particular, the department must avoid tenure recommendations that then get denied by the University due to insufficient quality.

University of California, Berkeley

"We can't get the houses — we're getting denied left and right.

The New Yorker

I know this because my Foil requests – everyone's Foil requests – keep getting denied.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "got denied" to convey a sense of disappointment or surprise at being refused something. It's suitable for informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "got denied" in highly formal or professional writing; opt for alternatives like "was rejected" or "was refused" to maintain a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "got denied" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something was the recipient of a denial. As confirmed by Ludwig, this usage is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Vice

22%

Huffington Post

6%

Less common in

TechCrunch

6%

Science

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "got denied" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression to indicate that a request or application has been refused, as confirmed by Ludwig. While prevalent in news and media sources, it is generally considered informal, so it should be used cautiously in formal or professional contexts, where alternatives like "was rejected" or "was refused" might be more appropriate. According to Ludwig, its usage is fairly common across various sources, highlighting its general acceptability in everyday communication. When writing, choose a more formal option to maintain a polished tone in professional or academic pieces.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was rejected

Formal alternative using "rejected" instead of "denied".

application was turned down

More specific to applications, implying a formal refusal.

request was refused

Focuses on the refusal of a specific request.

was declined

A slightly more polite or formal way of saying "denied".

did not get approved

Emphasizes the lack of approval rather than the act of denying.

was unsuccessful in obtaining

A more verbose and formal way of indicating failure to get something.

met with a refusal

Highlights the encounter with a negative response.

access was prohibited

Specific to situations involving access or entry being blocked.

permission was withheld

Emphasizes the act of withholding permission.

was given the thumbs down

An informal, idiomatic expression for rejection.

FAQs

How can I use "got denied" in a sentence?

You can use "got denied" to describe a situation where a request, application, or proposal was rejected. For example, "I applied for a loan, but I "got denied"."

What are some alternatives to "got denied"?

Some alternatives include "was rejected", "was refused", or "was declined". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "got denied" too informal for professional settings?

Yes, "got denied" is generally considered informal. In professional or formal contexts, using phrases like "was rejected" or "was not approved" is more appropriate.

What's the difference between "got denied" and "was rejected"?

"Got denied" is more colloquial and suggests a personal experience of being refused. "Was rejected" is more formal and can be used in a broader range of contexts, including impersonal or official situations. For example: "My application "was rejected"" sounds better than "My application "got denied"".