had been liked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been liked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something was liked at some point in the past, often in a context where the liking is no longer relevant or has changed. Example: "Before the controversy, the movie had been liked by many critics and audiences alike."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The more liberal he had been in Jersey City, the better Moore had been liked.

The New Yorker

Two preachers, Ahmad Musa Jibril and Musa Cerantonio, were among the top 10 of Facebook pages that had been liked.

The Guardian

At time of publish, the post had been liked 20,700 times and shared by more than 3,300 Facebook users.

The Guardian - Music

As of Tuesday, the Make-A-Wish With Gabriella page had been "liked" by more than 1,500 people, and included messages and photos from community members who had pitched in to support the cause.

The Washington Post

I was researching a story on the actor Chris Pratt and was surprised that a photograph he posted to the social networking app with his son on a fishing trip had been liked more than 1 million times.

The New York Times

"can you use this photo, please and thank you 😇 "Yours Truly, Amy Sharp xx" Her comment was accompanied by an angelic emoji and had been liked nearly 60,000 times at time of writing.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

We had been like sisters.

The New York Times - Books

Kenny had been like, Little young, bro.

The New Yorker

It had been like being benignly cuckolded.

The Guardian - Books

If only school had been like this.

The Guardian - Travel

It had been like that all night.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing social media engagement, use "had been liked" to indicate past popularity of a post or comment, particularly when contrasting with its current engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "had been liked" when the liking is still current or relevant. Use "is liked" or "was liked" if the appreciation continues to the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been liked" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating that an action (being liked) was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI examples show this in various contexts, emphasizing the previous state of being appreciated or favored.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been liked" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express past appreciation or approval, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a past perfect passive construction, often employed to contrast with a current situation. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, avoid using it when the liking is still current or relevant. Alternative phrases include "was appreciated" and "was well-received".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was well-received

Focuses on the reception of something in the past.

was appreciated

Emphasizes the feeling of gratitude or value assigned in the past.

garnered praise

Highlights the act of receiving positive feedback or commendation in the past.

enjoyed popularity

Indicates that something or someone was popular at a previous time.

had gained favor

Suggests that something or someone had obtained approval or preference in the past.

was favored

Highlights being the recipient of preference or advantage at some point in the past.

had met with approval

Indicates that something had been given positive assessment or endorsement previously.

was highly regarded

Conveys a sense of high opinion or respect in the past.

had found acceptance

Suggests that something or someone had been accepted by a group or society.

was admired

Focuses on the act of being respected or looked up to in the past.

FAQs

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

The phrase "had been liked" indicates that something was favored or appreciated in the past. For example, "The old version "had been liked" by many users, but the company decided to update it anyway."

What's the difference between "was liked" and "had been liked"?

"Was liked" refers to a simple past action, whereas "had been liked" refers to an action completed before another point in the past. For instance, "The initial design was liked, but the final version "had been liked" even more after revisions."

Can I replace "had been liked" with a single word?

While there isn't a single-word replacement, you could use alternatives like "was appreciated" or "was well-received" depending on the context.

Is "had been liked" formal or informal?

The phrase "had been liked" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although the specific wording around it might influence the overall tone.