had been pressed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been pressed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that something was pressed at some point before another past event. Example: "The shirt had been pressed before the important meeting, ensuring it looked sharp."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the buttons had been pressed.

The New York Times

Benches had been pressed, chests expanded.

The Guardian - Sport

And somewhere inside his mind, a button had been pressed.

The Guardian - Sport

(Both denied that the panic button had been pressed).

The New York Times - Magazine

One recorder showed that both the brake and accelerator pedals had been pressed.

The New York Times

Mr. Pollard's case had been pressed by the State Department and several members of Congress.

The New York Times

Now it had been pressed into service again to handle the flood of separated families.

The Washington Post

His Irish infantry were mainly untrained peasants who had been pressed into military service.

Britannica

It had been pressed to define its model for post-EU trade partnership.

The Guardian

He told another that he had been pressed to hold hearings in closed courtrooms.

The New York Times

The wrinkles had been pressed out of his suits and out of his personality.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been pressed", ensure that the context clearly indicates both the action of pressing and the timing relative to another past event. This helps maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice with "had been pressed", as it can sometimes make your writing sound vague or indirect. Consider whether an active voice construction would be more impactful and clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been pressed" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating that an action of pressing occurred and was completed before another action or time in the past. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Sport

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Lifestyle

4%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been pressed" is a past perfect passive construction used to indicate an action of pressing that was completed before another action in the past. Ludwig shows that it is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in News & Media. When writing, ensure that the context clearly indicates the timing of the action, and consider whether an active voice might be clearer. Alternatives include "was compelled" or "was forced", depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was leaned on

Indicates the application of pressure, either literally or figuratively, to achieve a desired result.

was pushed

Implies the use of force or insistence to accomplish something.

was forced

Emphasizes coercion or lack of voluntary action.

was compelled

Focuses on the feeling of obligation or force, rather than physical pressure.

was urged

Implies strong encouragement or persuasion to take a specific action.

was subjected to

Emphasizes the experience of undergoing something, typically unpleasant or challenging.

was driven

Highlights the driving force or motivation behind an action, indicating less on physical pressing.

was influenced

Stresses the impact or effect on a decision or outcome.

was solicited

Highlights the act of seeking or asking for something, often advice or support.

was requested

Focuses on a formal or polite request being made.

FAQs

How is "had been pressed" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had been pressed" indicates a past action completed before another point in the past. For example, "The button "had been pressed" before I arrived."

What are some alternatives to "had been pressed"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "was compelled", "was urged", or "was forced".

Is it better to use active voice instead of "had been pressed"?

In some cases, active voice can be more direct and clear. For instance, instead of "The issue "had been pressed" by the committee", you could say "The committee pressed the issue".

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

"Had been pressed" indicates an action completed before another point in the past, while "was pressed" simply indicates an action in the past. The former establishes a sequence of events.