has been passed over

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been passed over" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that someone was not chosen for. For example, "Unfortunately, John has been passed over for the promotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Since then, she has been passed over twice, Mr. Outten said.

The New York Times

We are saddened to find that once again Colin Blakemore has been passed over for a knighthood.

The Guardian

Another reason the Great Famine has been passed over is that its origins seemed so prosaic, compared with the dynastic struggles of the time.

The New Yorker

Once there, Iago, who feels he has been passed over for a promotion, puts into action a plan to destroy the man he serves.

The New Yorker

Christophe Daum, who was expected to take the post in June 2001, has been passed over after he failed a drugs test.

The Guardian - Sport

After three decades in which he has been passed over by white officials, Sipho's white boss has finally recommended that he succeed her.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

He said the body had been passed over for the prize many times because of politics.

The New York Times

He had been passed over in 2005, reportedly as the runner-up to Benedict XVI.

The New York Times

Hillary Clinton (shades of 2016) had been passed over by the voters.

The Guardian - Books

Will it be run by Stephen Elop, thought to have been passed over for the CEO job?

The Guardian - Tech

He was told Mr. Burton had been passed over for "Under the Volcano".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been passed over" to clearly and professionally indicate that someone or something was not chosen for a specific role or opportunity. Ensure the context provides enough information about what the person or thing was not selected for.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "passed". "Passed over" is the standard idiom; avoid using alternatives like "passed by" unless you intend a literal meaning of moving past something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been passed over" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject was not chosen for a specific opportunity or position. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been passed over" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive verb phrase that indicates a lack of selection for a specific opportunity or position. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers several examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While it's suitable for professional and news contexts, remember to avoid misusing prepositions. Consider alternatives like "was overlooked" or ""was not selected"" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was overlooked

Focuses on the act of being missed or not noticed.

was not selected

Directly states the lack of selection.

was rejected

Emphasizes a denial or refusal.

was bypassed

Highlights the act of going around or avoiding someone/something.

was not considered

Indicates a lack of evaluation or attention.

missed out on

Suggests a lost opportunity.

did not get the nod

Uses an informal idiom for not being chosen.

lost out on

Implies a competition where someone was defeated.

was superseded

Suggests being replaced by something or someone else.

didn't make the cut

Uses an idiom for not meeting the required standard.

FAQs

How can I use "has been passed over" in a sentence?

You can use "has been passed over" to indicate that someone was not selected for a promotion, opportunity, or position. For example, "Despite his qualifications, he "has been passed over" for the manager role."

What's a more formal alternative to "has been passed over"?

A more formal alternative could be "was not selected". For instance, instead of saying "She "has been passed over" for the committee", you could say "She "was not selected" for the committee".

Is it correct to say "has been passed by" instead of "has been passed over"?

While "passed by" can be used in other contexts (e.g., "The parade "passed by" the reviewing stand"), it's not interchangeable with ""has been passed over"" when indicating someone wasn't chosen for something. The latter is idiomatic.

What does it mean when someone "has been passed over" multiple times?

If someone ""has been passed over"" multiple times, it suggests a recurring pattern of not being selected for opportunities, potentially due to performance, qualifications, or other factors influencing the decision-making process.