he was relieved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was relieved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a feeling of relief experienced by someone after a stressful or worrying situation has passed. Example: "After hearing the good news about his health, he was relieved and could finally relax."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

White said he was relieved.

The New York Times - Sports

"He was relieved".

The New York Times

He said he was relieved about that.

The New York Times - Sports

He was relieved of command in January.

The New York Times

"He was relieved, frankly," Mr. Barsky said.

The New York Times

He was relieved to see her.

The New York Times - Sports

He was relieved, she said.

The New York Times

He was relieved that I wasn't shocked.

The New York Times - Magazine

He was relieved to find he wasn't.

The Guardian

He was relieved to retire in 1986.

The Guardian

He was relieved when it was cancelled.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For emphasis, follow the phrase with an explanation of why the person was relieved: "He was relieved to hear the surgery was successful."

Common error

Avoid using "he was relieved" without clearly indicating what caused the relief. Ensure the reader understands the preceding situation that generated the feeling.

Linguistic Context

"He was relieved" functions as a declarative statement expressing a state of being. It indicates that a subject experienced a reduction in stress or anxiety. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was relieved" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a sense of relief. Ludwig AI validates its usage and correctness. It's suitable for many contexts, especially news and sports reporting, with a neutral tone. When using the phrase, ensure the source of relief is clear to the reader. Several alternatives, such as "he felt a sense of relief" or "he was glad", can be used to express similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he felt relieved

Omits "was", creating a shorter, more direct expression of the same sentiment.

he felt a sense of relief

Focuses on the internal feeling of relief rather than a simple statement.

he breathed a sigh of relief

Adds a physical action to emphasize the feeling of relief.

he was glad

Expresses a general feeling of happiness or satisfaction, which can be a result of relief.

he was eased

Indicates a lessening of burden or pressure, resulting in relief.

he was comforted

Highlights the aspect of being soothed or reassured, implying a reduction in anxiety.

he was thankful

Expresses gratitude, often associated with the relief from a negative situation.

he was assuaged

A more formal way of saying he was relieved, suggesting a calming of strong emotions.

he found solace

Suggests finding comfort or relief in a situation, implying a deeper sense of peace.

he was discharged

Share same structure and semantic field but expresses a different meaning when used without context. Need to pay attention and context to use it correctly

FAQs

How can I use "he was relieved" in a sentence?

Use "he was relieved" to indicate that someone felt a sense of comfort or release after a period of worry or stress. For example, "He was relieved to hear that his family was safe after the storm".

What are some alternatives to saying "he was relieved"?

You can use alternatives like "he felt a sense of relief", "he was glad", or "he was comforted" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "he was relieved"?

Yes, "he was relieved" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" with the past participle of "relieve", forming a passive construction indicating a state of being.

What's the difference between "he was relieved" and "he felt relieved"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "he was relieved" is a more direct statement of the feeling, whereas "he felt relieved" emphasizes the experience of feeling the relief. Both are correct and often interchangeable.