has been impounded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been impounded" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something, such as a vehicle or property, has been seized or taken into custody by authorities, often due to legal reasons. Example: "The car has been impounded due to unpaid parking tickets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

The Alberta herd has been impounded.

The New York Times

The bus has been impounded by the State Department of Transportation.

The New York Times

The doctor's car, which was left outside Jackson's rented mansion in Bel Air, has been impounded.

The Guardian - Music

But convenient court rulings helped bring down two successive pro-Thaksin governments.Abhisit's chanceMr Thaksin's wealth has been impounded.

The Economist

The captain and crew of the Jeehan 1 remain in Yemeni detention, and the dhow has been impounded under Yemeni custody, a Yememi official said.

The New York Times

United Nations personnel, including the former human rights chief there, have been detained and even beaten up by security agents, while equipment has been impounded.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

He carries out the usual exploits, one of the most popular being the episode in which he kills Monster Frog, who has been impounding the water.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In Egypt, coastal lagoons have been impounded to raise fish.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The ships have been impounded by customs while their case goes through the law courts.

The Economist

It had been impounded, and the storage fees exceeded its value.

The New York Times

Lieutenant Ryan's air mask and other equipment have been impounded for inspection.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been impounded", ensure the context clearly indicates who impounded the item and why. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity, especially in legal or news reporting.

Common error

Avoid using "has been impounded" when the subject is not an object or entity capable of being seized. For instance, it's incorrect to say "the idea has been impounded"; instead, use alternatives like "suppressed" or "shelved".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been impounded" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject has undergone the action of being impounded by an external agent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is typically used in contexts where an authority has seized something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been impounded" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI, to describe the action of something being officially seized or taken into custody, often due to legal reasons. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, this phrase indicates a passive action where the subject is acted upon by an authority. Alternatives such as "has been seized" or "has been confiscated" can be used depending on the specific context. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding who performed the impounding and the reasons behind it to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been seized

Replaces "impounded" with a more general term for taking possession, suitable for broader contexts.

has been confiscated

Suggests the item was taken due to a violation of rules or laws.

has been taken into custody

Emphasizes the official nature of the seizure, often used in legal contexts.

has been detained

Implies a temporary holding, often used for vehicles or goods pending investigation.

has been secured

Indicates the item has been made safe and is under control, though not necessarily seized due to wrongdoing.

has been appropriated

Suggests the item has been taken for official use, possibly by a government or authority.

has been sequestered

Implies isolation or separation of the item from general use, often for legal or investigative purposes.

is in official custody

Rephrases the idea to highlight the state of being held by authorities.

is under impound

Inverts the phrase to emphasize the state of being subject to impoundment.

is held by authorities

Provides a simple and direct way to express the item's current status.

FAQs

What does "has been impounded" mean?

The phrase "has been impounded" means that something, typically a vehicle or property, has been officially seized and taken into custody, usually due to a legal infraction or violation.

What are some alternatives to saying "has been impounded"?

You can use alternatives like "has been seized", "has been confiscated", or "has been taken into custody" depending on the specific context.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "has been impounded"?

It's appropriate when discussing legal or official actions where property or vehicles are taken into custody by authorities, such as due to unpaid fines, illegal activities, or safety violations.

Is it correct to say "was impounded" instead of "has been impounded"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they indicate different tenses. "Was impounded" refers to a completed action in the past, while "has been impounded" indicates an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present.