has been defeated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has been defeated' is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The champion boxer has been defeated after a long and grueling match."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Whatever initially made $B$ justified continues to justify $B$ once the defeater has been defeated.

SEP

America, the sporting superpower, has been defeated.

The Economist

The outbreak in Nigeria has been defeated.

The Guardian

Mr Berlusconi has been defeated twice in five general elections.

The Economist

People are saying that Israel has been defeated morally.

Independent

In five years Bolt has been defeated only three times.

The Guardian - Sport

5.59pm BST The leadership amendment has been defeated.

The Guardian

The resolution to invite India has been defeated.

The New Yorker

For Pakistan, if governance is coming back again, well, their whole aim has been defeated.

The New York Times

A similar measure has been defeated twice, by large margins, in Colorado.

The New York Times

The Labour amendment has been defeated by 316 votes to 295 votes - a majority of 21.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been defeated", ensure the subject and tense align with the context. For example, use "the enemy has been defeated" to convey a past victory, or "the proposal has been defeated" to describe a failed initiative.

Common error

Avoid using "has been defeated" in passive constructions where an active voice would be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "the bill has been defeated by the opposition", write "the opposition defeated the bill".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been defeated" functions as a passive perfect verb phrase, indicating that a subject has undergone the action of being defeated at some point in the past, with the results of that action still relevant. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been defeated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive perfect verb phrase. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it correctly indicates that something or someone has experienced defeat in the past, with implications for the present. It's particularly common in news and media contexts, but also appears in scientific and formal communications. When using this phrase, consider the nuance you wish to convey – whether to simply report a loss or to emphasize the completeness and finality of the defeat. While generally neutral, choosing more vivid synonyms like "was overcome" or "suffered a loss" can add color to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffered a loss

Focuses on the experience of losing rather than the state of being defeated.

was bested

Implies being outdone or surpassed by someone in skill or ability.

was overcome

Implies being conquered or subdued by a superior force or challenge.

was conquered

Similar to "was overcome", highlighting a complete victory by the opponent.

was overthrown

Suggests being forcibly removed from a position of power or control.

met its demise

More formal and often used when something permanently ends or fails.

yielded to

Implies surrendering or giving way to an opponent or pressure.

came to an end

General phrase indicating termination, which can include defeat.

succumbed to

Focuses on failing to resist something, such as an illness or temptation.

reached its expiration

Implies a process, project, or plan coming to an end naturally or inevitably.

FAQs

What does "has been defeated" mean?

The phrase "has been defeated" means that someone or something has lost a battle, contest, or struggle. It indicates a state of being overcome or vanquished.

How can I use "has been defeated" in a sentence?

You can use "has been defeated" to describe the outcome of a conflict or competition. For example, "The invading army has been defeated", or "The amendment "has been defeated" in the Senate".

What are some alternatives to "has been defeated"?

Alternatives to "has been defeated" include "was overcome", "suffered a loss", "was conquered", or "came to an end", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "have been defeated" instead of "has been defeated"?

No, "have been defeated" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "They have been defeated"), while "has been defeated" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "He has been defeated").