haven't heard from

USAGE SUMMARY

"haven't heard from" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has not received a message or other communication from another person. For example: "I haven't heard from my friend in weeks - I'm starting to get worried."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I haven't heard from Martha.

The New York Times - Magazine

We haven't heard from him.

The Guardian

We haven't heard from Cuomo".

The New York Times

"We haven't heard from HP.

The Guardian - Tech

I haven't heard from Scott.

The New York Times

I certainly haven't heard from him since".

The New Yorker

"I haven't heard from you today.

The Guardian - Tech

Ominously, we haven't heard from torinesi since.

The Guardian - Books

We haven't heard from the Yankees.

The New York Times - Sports

We haven't heard from her since then.

The New York Times

Haven't heard from Phil much lately.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "haven't heard from", ensure the context clearly indicates who you expected to hear from and why. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "haven't been heard from" when you mean "haven't heard from". The former implies someone else should be hearing you, while the latter implies you haven't received communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "haven't heard from" functions as a statement indicating a lack of communication received from a specified person or entity. It is commonly used to express concern, inquire about someone's well-being, or simply note the absence of expected contact, as shown in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "haven't heard from" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the absence of communication from someone, as affirmed by Ludwig. Its usage is prevalent in News & Media, indicating a broad applicability across different contexts. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "no contact from" or "no word from", it's important to use "haven't heard from" to correctly convey the direction of expected communication. Remember to avoid the passive form "haven't been heard from" unless you specifically mean someone should be hearing from you.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no contact from

Focuses on the lack of contact, emphasizing the absence of any communication.

no word from

Highlights the absence of news or information received from someone.

out of touch with

Indicates a loss of connection or communication, implying a more general lack of contact.

not been in contact with

Formally states the absence of communication, often used in professional contexts.

lost touch with

Suggests a gradual fading of communication over time.

not gotten in touch with

Emphasizes the lack of initiation of communication.

not been reached by

Highlights the inability to establish contact, possibly due to external factors.

unreachable by

Indicates a state where someone cannot be contacted.

not received any communication from

Formally expresses the absence of any form of communication.

absence of communication with

Highlights the state of lacking communication, often used in formal reports or analyses.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "haven't heard from" in an email?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "no contact from", "no word from", or "not been in contact with".

Is it grammatically correct to say "I haven't been hearing from"?

While grammatically valid, "I haven't been hearing from" is less common than "I haven't heard from". The latter is more direct and widely accepted.

What does it mean when someone says "I haven't heard from them in a while"?

It indicates that they haven't received any communication (e.g., calls, messages, emails) from that person or group of people recently.

What's the difference between "I haven't heard from" and "I didn't hear from"?

"I haven't heard from" implies a continued lack of communication up to the present, while "I didn't hear from" refers to a specific instance in the past where communication was expected but did not occur.