had been divested

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been divested" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts involving the removal of ownership or investment in an asset, company, or property. Example: "The company had been divested of its non-core assets to focus on its primary business operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

(Bank of America had been divested earlier).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most of your previous assets had been divested, except for Sky View Parc.

The New York Times

In May 1142 he recovered Saxony, one of the two duchies of which his father had been divested by Conrad III, the first Hohenstaufen German king.

Encyclopedia Britannica

By the time Mr. Brown arrived in 1999, Electronic Data had been divested by G.M. but was steadily losing ground to I.B.M. in a rapidly expanding computer services market.

The New York Times

"Cablevision watchers (and we'd put ourselves in that category) have long pondered possible endgames, and the notion that the Dolans would retain ownership of M.S.G. and the New York sports teams long after the rest of the assets had been divested has always been viewed as among the most likely outcomes," Craig Moffett, a senior analyst at Bernstein Research, wrote in a note to investors.

The New York Times

Even dumber, she said that the Photoshopping was a "desecration," which means she believes Trig had been "divested of her sacred character".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

A handwritten note on the forms, dated June 4, says that "all conflicting assets have been divested".

The New York Times

Some 75% of the 251 properties acquired have been divested to traditional owners.

The Guardian - Opinion

Tobacco stocks have been divested over the last two decades by a number of public officials and organizations, like churches, pension funds and universities -- including the University of California in 2001.

The New York Times

Joe Patterson's Daily News, now owned by a real estate operator, has been divested of its old panache with no corresponding improvement in its character.

The New York Times - Books

As of May 2016 the global campaign had resulted in more than $3tn£2.25tntn) having been divested from the fossil fuel industry by hundreds of institutions around the world.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been divested", ensure the context clearly indicates what was divested and from whom or what it was divested. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been divested" in situations where the actor performing the divestment is unclear. Reword the sentence to specify who divested the asset for better readability and transparency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been divested" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating a completed action in the past where something was removed or sold off. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's commonly used to describe business restructuring, asset sales, or relinquishment of control.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been divested" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI, primarily employed to describe the completed action of relinquishing ownership or investment in an asset. Its usage leans towards neutral and professional registers, commonly appearing in news and encyclopedia sources. To ensure clarity, specify the asset being divested and the entity performing the divestment. Related phrases include alternatives like "had been sold off" and "had been relinquished". Although not very frequent, the expression is commonly used in journalistic articles or formal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been sold off

Focuses specifically on the act of selling assets, emphasizing the commercial aspect.

had been relinquished

Emphasizes a voluntary giving up of something, suggesting less force or obligation.

had been ceded

Suggests a formal surrender or yielding of control or territory.

had been transferred

Highlights the act of moving something from one owner to another.

had been removed

Focuses on the act of taking something away, without specifying the method or reason.

had been separated from

Indicates a disconnection or detachment from something else.

had been dispossessed of

Implies a forced removal of property or possessions.

had been unloaded

Suggests a quick and possibly eager disposal of something.

had been gotten rid of

An informal way to describe the disposal of something undesirable.

had been offloaded

Similar to "unloaded", suggesting a transfer of responsibility or burden.

FAQs

How can I use "had been divested" in a sentence?

You can use "had been divested" to describe the act of selling off or transferring ownership of an asset. For example, "The subsidiary "had been divested" to streamline the parent company's operations."

What's the difference between "had been divested" and "had been sold"?

"Had been divested" typically implies a strategic decision to remove an asset or business unit, while "had been sold" simply indicates a sale occurred. Divestment often involves restructuring or refocusing a company.

What are some alternatives to "had been divested"?

Alternatives include "had been sold off", "had been relinquished", or "had been transferred", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "had been divested of"?

Yes, you can use "had been divested of" to indicate what the entity or individual lost as a result of the divestment. For example, "The company "had been divested of" its real estate holdings."