had practically abandoned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had practically abandoned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has almost completely given up on or left behind a particular place, idea, or responsibility. Example: "After years of neglect, the old factory had practically abandoned its original purpose and fallen into disrepair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Around the same time, a theater-building boom replaced rundown old cinemas with sparkling new complexes that made moviegoing more attractive to the middle classes, which had practically abandoned the cinema for the television serials called telenovelas.

The New York Times

By the time the advance units of the Leningrad Front arrived at Tallinn early on 22 September, German troops had practically abandoned the city and the streets were empty.

Wikipedia

By end of 1934, NRA leaders had practically abandoned the progressive interventionist policy which motivated the Act's passage, and were supporting free-market philosophies contributing to the collapse of almost all industry codes.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And the judiciary, which is supposed to prevent government from violating constitutional rights, has practically abandoned that role.

The New York Times

Each made a push years ago but has practically abandoned the market.

Forbes

Business card scanning has been improved so you can quickly add scanned cards to your device's contacts – handy, since LinkedIn has practically abandoned its CardMunch acquisition while focused more heavily on its newer Contacts app.

TechCrunch

Santiago had been practically abandoned for New Year's and we had this southern metropolis to ourselves.

The New Yorker

Perhaps because of a new feeling of confidence, the security check at the main gate had been practically abandoned.

The New Yorker

The premier was looking into land reform to gain access to areas that had been practically abandoned.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He used to send a proportion of his wages home to his father Martin each month to fund the construction of the complex, but N-gwa Niba says it now "sadly has practically been abandoned now because of lack of funding".

BBC

The decrease in its efficacy, its serious and sometimes irreversible toxicity, and the availability of other therapeutic options have meant that use of pentamidine has practically been abandoned over the last 4 5 years.

Drugs

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had practically abandoned" to describe a situation where something was almost entirely given up on or left behind, but not necessarily completely.

Common error

Avoid using "had practically abandoned" when something has been entirely abandoned. The phrase implies a near-complete but not absolute state. Choose stronger terms like "completely abandoned" if full abandonment has occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had practically abandoned" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past action that nearly resulted in complete abandonment. It describes a state where something was almost entirely given up on, though perhaps not entirely. Ludwig AI examples showcase this usage in contexts where a complete desertion wasn't necessarily the case.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had practically abandoned" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a state of near-complete desertion or neglect. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides examples of its usage in contexts ranging from news reports to encyclopedic entries. It is most commonly found in "News & Media" but also appears in "Wiki" and "Science" contexts. Remember to use it when you want to convey that something was almost, but not entirely, given up on. Consider alternatives like "had almost deserted" or "had virtually relinquished" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had almost deserted

Replaces 'practically abandoned' with 'almost deserted', focusing on the act of leaving a place or thing.

had virtually relinquished

Substitutes 'practically abandoned' with 'virtually relinquished', highlighting the act of giving up something.

had all but forsaken

Replaces 'practically abandoned' with 'all but forsaken', emphasizing a complete abandonment with a sense of neglect.

had nearly given up on

Changes the structure to focus on giving up, suggesting a loss of hope or effort.

had effectively ceased

Emphasizes the cessation or termination of something, replacing the idea of abandonment with ineffectiveness.

had substantially neglected

Shifts the focus to neglect, implying that something was not properly cared for or attended to.

had largely ignored

Replaces abandonment with a state of being ignored, suggesting a lack of attention or focus.

had functionally discontinued

Highlights the discontinuation or termination of something, replacing the concept of abandonment with a more formal cessation.

had essentially disregarded

Implies a deliberate overlooking or ignoring of something, rather than a complete abandonment.

had nominally maintained

Suggests a superficial maintenance effort that is in effect equivalent to abandonment because the effort is very low.

FAQs

What does "had practically abandoned" mean?

The phrase "had practically abandoned" means that someone or something had almost completely given up on or deserted a particular place, thing, or activity. It implies a near-complete state of abandonment without being absolute.

What are some alternatives to "had practically abandoned"?

You can use alternatives such as "had almost deserted", "had virtually relinquished", or "had all but forsaken" depending on the context.

How can I use "had practically abandoned" in a sentence?

Example: After years of neglect, the city "had practically abandoned" its public transportation system, leading to increased traffic congestion.

Is it correct to say "had practically abandoned" or should I use "completely abandoned"?

The choice depends on the context. "Had practically abandoned" implies a near-complete abandonment, while "completely abandoned" suggests a total and absolute desertion. Use "completely abandoned" when there is no remaining connection or effort.