have been defeated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been defeated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something has lost in a competition or conflict at some point in the past and the effects of that defeat continue into the present. Example: "Despite their best efforts, the team has been defeated in the championship game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They have been defeated," according to Bloomberg News.

The New York Times

Attempts to overthrow his signature healthcare reform have been defeated.

Independent

Most of al Qaeda's top lieutenants have been defeated.

The New York Times

"Less than 1percentt have been defeated," he said.

The New York Times

Instead, the Taliban have been defeated and ousted.

MIT Technology Review

If it doesn't, President Obama will have been defeated.

The New York Times

Did you notice the ways in which six diamonds could have been defeated?

The New York Times

If he had pitched a diamond, the contract would have been defeated.

The New York Times

Both the men and women's team have been defeated in all their matches so far.

Independent

If West would have selected a spade, six no-trump could have been defeated.

The New York Times

If he had shifted to a diamond, the slam would have been defeated.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been defeated" to indicate a past loss that has present implications or ongoing consequences. For example, "The enemy have been defeated, but vigilance is still required."

Common error

Avoid using "have been defeated" when referring to a future or hypothetical situation. Instead, use "will be defeated" or "would have been defeated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been defeated" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that the subject has undergone the action of being defeated at some point in the past, with the consequences potentially extending to the present. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

14%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been defeated" is a versatile and frequently used expression indicating a past loss with present implications. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts. The phrase appears most often in news and media, science, and academic writing. It’s important to use the correct tense and consider the ongoing consequences of the defeat when employing this phrase. Alternatives such as "were vanquished" or "suffered a setback" can offer subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were trounced

Conveys a sense of being heavily and decisively defeated.

were crushed

Suggests a forceful and demoralizing defeat.

were vanquished

Implies a more complete and decisive defeat, often in a military or epic context.

were conquered

Indicates being taken over by force, often in a historical context.

were overpowered

Suggests being defeated due to superior strength or force.

were overcome

Indicates being overwhelmed by a force or challenge.

lost out

Indicates failing to win a competition or obtain something desired.

suffered a setback

Suggests a temporary delay or hindrance rather than a complete loss.

succumbed to

Implies giving in to something that is difficult to resist.

met their demise

Refers to a final and often fatal defeat.

FAQs

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

"Have been defeated" indicates a past loss with continuing relevance. For instance, "The proposal have been defeated after a long debate" shows the decision is final.

What are some alternatives to "have been defeated"?

You can use alternatives like "were vanquished", "suffered a setback", or "were overcome" depending on the context.

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

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "has been defeated" for singular subjects (e.g., "the bill has been defeated") and "have been defeated" for plural subjects (e.g., "the amendments have been defeated").

What's the difference between "have been defeated" and "were defeated"?

"Have been defeated" implies the defeat has present relevance or ongoing consequences, while "were defeated" simply refers to a past event. For example, "They "were defeated" last year" is a simple statement of fact, whereas "They have been defeated, and their morale is low" indicates a continuing effect.