has been sold

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been sold" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been recently purchased by someone. For example: "The company's shares have been sold to a new investor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Truvada has been sold since 2004.

The New York Times

It has been sold out since Sunday.

The New York Times

Every playoff game has been sold out.

The New York Times - Sports

A flat next door has been sold.

Independent

None of the units has been sold.

The New York Times

Blackwater has been sold and renamed.

The Guardian

Since that time it has been sold.

The New York Times

Potpourri Panama Hatties has been sold.

The New York Times

Openings The Bayport House has been sold.

The New York Times

A $600 bedroom set has been sold.

The New York Times

It has been sold to 250 territories.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been sold", ensure the subject is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify what "has been sold" (e.g., "The house has been sold").

Common error

Avoid confusing "has been sold" with similar tenses. "Was sold" implies a completed action in the past, while "is being sold" indicates an ongoing action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been sold" functions as the present perfect passive voice of the verb "sell". It indicates that a transaction of selling something has been completed at some point in the past and is relevant to the present. Ludwig provides many examples of its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

18%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been sold" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote that something has been transferred to a new owner. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase enjoys broad applicability, spanning from news and media to encyclopedic entries and academic publications. Pay attention to the subtle differences between "has been sold" and similar tenses to ensure accuracy. Ludwig AI confirms the validity and widespread use of this phrase across different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been purchased

Replaces "sold" with a synonym emphasizing the buyer's perspective.

has been bought

Another way to say "has been purchased", highlighting the buyer.

has been acquired

Implies a more formal or business-oriented transfer of ownership.

has been disposed of

Suggests the item was gotten rid of, not necessarily through a sale.

has been transferred

Focuses on the act of moving something from one owner to another, can be used for property.

has changed hands

An idiomatic expression indicating a change in ownership.

is under new ownership

Emphasizes the new ownership rather than the act of selling.

is no longer available

Focuses on the unavailability of the item, without explicitly stating it was sold.

is sold out

Used when all items of a particular product are sold.

has found a buyer

Highlights the act of finding someone to purchase the item.

FAQs

What's the difference between "has been sold" and "was sold"?

"Has been sold" implies the action is relevant to the present, while "was sold" refers to a completed action in the past. For instance, "The company has been sold" suggests new ownership is in effect, whereas "The company was sold" simply states a past event.

What can I say instead of "has been sold"?

You can use alternatives like "has been purchased", "has been acquired", or "is no longer available" depending on the context.

How to use "has been sold" in a sentence?

Use "has been sold" to indicate that something has been recently purchased or transferred to a new owner. For example, "The painting has been sold to a private collector".

Is it correct to say "the item has been sell" instead of "the item has been sold"?

No, "the item has been sell" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "the item "has been sold"". "Sold" is the past participle of "sell" and is required after "has been" to form the present perfect passive tense.