had expired

USAGE SUMMARY

"had expired" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has ended or been terminated due to a passage of time. For example, "Her lease had expired, so she had to find a new place to live."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

My card had expired.

The New York Times

It had expired in 1984.

The New York Times

Almost fourminutes had expired.

The New York Times - Sports

Suharto's cold war utility had expired.

The New York Times

Their terms had expired, the governor explained.

The Economist

Their contract had expired weeks before.

The New Yorker

Her Medicaid coverage had expired.

The Guardian - Opinion

The document had expired twelve days ago.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

But the statute of limitations on those charges had expired.

The New York Times

Niamehr's credit card had expired, which is why his account was delinquent.

TechCrunch

Sure enough, it had expired on his birthday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or official documents, using "had expired" clarifies that the document was once valid but is no longer so.

Common error

Avoid using "has expired" when referring to a past event. Use "had expired" to indicate that something expired before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had expired" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating that an action (expiring) was completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI explains, it is commonly used to specify that something was no longer valid or effective at a particular time in the past. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate the usage of "had expired" in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had expired" is a common and grammatically correct past perfect verb phrase used to indicate that something was no longer valid at a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI underlines, this phrase frequently appears in diverse contexts like news, scientific publications, and general discussions. Usage analysis reveals that it commonly describes the state of documents, agreements, or time limits that have lost their validity. When writing, ensure you use "had expired" to indicate that something expired before another point in the past. Alternatives include phrases like "was no longer valid" or "had lapsed", but the most suitable choice will depend on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was no longer valid

Focuses on the state of being invalid rather than the action of expiring.

had lapsed

Similar to "had expired", but often used for agreements or memberships.

was out of date

Emphasizes the currency or timeliness of something.

was no longer in effect

Highlights the cessation of an agreement or rule.

had run out

Suggests a depletion of a resource or time limit.

had become void

Implies a legal or official invalidation.

was terminated

Focuses on the action of ending something, often by an authority.

was invalidated

Emphasizes the process of making something invalid.

had finished

Suggests a natural completion of a set period.

was discontinued

Focuses on the act of stopping something from continuing.

FAQs

How can I use "had expired" in a sentence?

Use "had expired" to indicate that something was once valid but is no longer valid at a specific point in the past. For example, "By the time he arrived, his ticket "had expired"."

What's the difference between "had expired" and "has expired"?

"Had expired" refers to something that expired before a certain point in the past, whereas "has expired" indicates something that recently expired or is currently no longer valid. For example, "The warranty "has expired", so we can't repair it for free."

What are some alternatives to saying "had expired"?

You could use phrases like "was no longer valid", "had lapsed", or "was out of date" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the deadline had expired already"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. Using "already" emphasizes that the deadline expired before the anticipated or expected time. This is a common and acceptable usage.