has gotten away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has gotten away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something has escaped or eluded capture or attention. Example: "The thief has gotten away with the stolen goods, and the police are still searching for him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sports

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

In many ways he has gotten away with it.

The New York Times

CBOE so far has gotten away with the FEB 2018 incident with.the VIX.

Columbia University

"They're well aware of what North Korea has gotten away with.

The New York Times

He has conned the referee [Mike Jones] and has gotten away with it".

The New York Times

The game has gotten away from the people who run it.

The New York Times - Sports

For too long, the N.R.A. has gotten away with shoddy arguments unsupported by empirical evidence.

The New York Times

Not even Barry Bonds, who has gotten away with a lot, could pull off the stunt.

The New York Times - Sports

But for the most part, San Antonio has gotten away with it.

The New York Times - Sports

RB: Apple has gotten away with this approach to a greater degree than we thought they would.

The Guardian - Tech

In the simplest possible terms, you could say that Milton's sentence, Milton's argument here in this paragraph, has gotten away from him.

Yale University

While his questions to the jury are supposed to be specifically related to the case, Hardin has gotten away with asking some off-beat ones.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has gotten away" to describe situations where someone has avoided negative consequences, whether through luck, skill, or systemic failure. Consider the nuance you want to convey – is it about escaping justice, evading responsibility, or simply going unnoticed?

Common error

Avoid using "has gotten away" when the action resulted in consequences, even if those consequences were minor. The phrase implies a complete escape or lack of significant repercussions. It's important to use alternatives like "faced consequences" or "was penalized" if some form of accountability was enforced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has gotten away" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone or something has successfully escaped or avoided negative consequences. This is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

9%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

3%

Opinion

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has gotten away" is a versatile and commonly used verb phrase to describe situations where someone or something has successfully avoided negative consequences. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples across various domains. The phrase is grammatically correct, with variations in usage between American and British English, and maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse audiences. Remember to consider the specific nuance you want to convey, as several alternatives exist, each with slightly different implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has escaped punishment

Directly implies that a deserved punishment was not received, intensifying the sense of injustice.

has gone unpunished

Shifts the focus from the actor to the action, emphasizing the lack of consequences.

has walked free

Emphasizes the lack of confinement or restriction, often in a legal context.

has evaded justice

Focuses specifically on avoiding legal consequences, adding a layer of severity.

has dodged accountability

Emphasizes the avoidance of responsibility, implying a deliberate act.

has been let off the hook

Suggests that someone else intervened to prevent consequences, softening the meaning.

has flown under the radar

Suggests that the action was unnoticed or ignored, allowing the person to avoid consequences.

has slipped through the cracks

Implies a systemic failure that allowed the person to avoid consequences.

has cheated the system

Highlights the use of manipulation to gain an unfair advantage and avoid consequences, adding a negative connotation.

has skirted the issue

Indicates an indirect avoidance of a problem or question, rather than a complete escape.

FAQs

How can I use "has gotten away" in a sentence?

You can use "has gotten away" to indicate that someone has avoided punishment or negative consequences for their actions. For example, "Despite his blatant dishonesty, he "has gotten away" with it for years."

What's a synonym for "has gotten away"?

Synonyms for "has gotten away" include "has escaped", "has evaded", or "has gone unpunished". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What does it mean when someone "has gotten away with" something?

When someone "has gotten away with" something, it means they have successfully avoided being caught or punished for doing something wrong. This can range from minor misdeeds to serious crimes.

Is it correct to say "has got away" instead of "has gotten away"?

Both "has gotten away" and "has got away" are grammatically correct, although "has gotten away" is more common in American English, while "has got away" is more common in British English. The meaning remains the same.