he was resigned

USAGE SUMMARY

"he was resigned" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It conveys a sense of acceptance, typically in response to a difficult or unpleasant situation. For example, "After weeks of negotiations, he was resigned to the fact that the deal would have to be cancelled".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But he was resigned.

The New York Times - Style

He was resigned to it.

The Guardian - Books

His expression signaled he was resigned to this fate.

The New York Times

He was resigned, surrendering, and said he would leave it to Life to cut the rest.

The New York Times

He said he was resigned to spending the rest of his life in prison.

The New York Times

But he was resigned to the probability of having to move.

The New York Times

Now he was resigned to the headlines being composed even as he packed his kit bag.

The Guardian - Sport

This is not to say that he was resigned to his fate.

The Guardian - Sport

I was told he was resigned to his fate and prepared to accept his punishment.

The Guardian - Books

Harrington said he was resigned to the fact that the story will not go away.

The New York Times - Sports

But he was resigned to the night's outcome, time to get the faucets moving.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was resigned" to show acceptance of something undesirable or inevitable, rather than excitement or eagerness. Ensure the context makes it clear what he is resigned to.

Common error

Avoid using "he was resigned" when the intended meaning is that he actively chose or embraced a situation. Resignation implies a lack of agency or enthusiasm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was resigned" functions as a stative verb phrase, indicating a state of acceptance or acquiescence. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability. The examples show it describing someone's acceptance of an undesirable situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Books

15%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was resigned" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, to express acceptance of an unpleasant or unavoidable situation. Its prevalence in news and media reflects its utility in objective reporting. While similar phrases like "he had accepted" or "he came to terms with" exist, "he was resigned" specifically implies a lack of resistance to an undesirable outcome. When using it, consider the implications of passivity versus active acceptance, and ensure the context supports the idea of resignation rather than enthusiastic agreement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he came to terms with

Suggests he gradually accepted something unpleasant.

he had accepted

Implies a conscious decision to accept a situation, which may or may not involve a sense of defeat.

he was reconciled

Suggests he made peace with the circumstances.

he had yielded

Suggests a surrender of will or resistance, often in the face of overwhelming force or pressure.

he was acquiescent

Describes a state of being ready to agree or comply without argument.

he had acquiesced

Indicates reluctant acceptance without protest.

he had submitted

Conveys a sense of compliance or obedience, potentially with a negative connotation.

he was stoic

Implies an unemotional endurance of hardship.

he was philosophical

Suggests he took a broad and detached view of the situation.

he braced himself

Indicates mental or physical preparation for something unpleasant.

FAQs

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

Use "he was resigned" to describe a state of accepting something unpleasant or unavoidable. For instance, "After the repeated failures, "he was resigned" to the project's cancellation".

What can I say instead of "he was resigned"?

You can use alternatives like "he had accepted", "he came to terms with", or "he had yielded" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "he is resigned" instead of "he was resigned"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct. "He is resigned" describes his current state of mind, while ""he was resigned"" describes his state of mind in the past.

What's the difference between "he was resigned" and "he was forced"?

"He was resigned" implies acceptance of a situation, while "he was forced" implies coercion or lack of choice. Resignation is internal, while being forced is external.