he was served

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was served" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts to indicate that someone has been formally given legal documents or notice of a legal action against them. Example: "After the court hearing, he was served with the divorce papers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He was served yogurt instead.

The New York Times

He was served the beverage, to cheers.

The New York Times

20 he was served another subpoena by Spec.

The New Yorker

He was served tea and a large plate of dates.

The New Yorker

He was served caviar as an appetizer on fine bone china and with a linen tablecloth.

The New York Times

But he was served well by what Mr. Emanuel does not possess.

The New York Times

Nigel Slater raved about the Galician beef he was served at Kitty Fisher's in Mayfair: "Awesome.

The Guardian

He was served closely for many years by our recently deceased colleague, Gail Winawer.

The New York Times

This Labor Day, for his efforts, he was served a doughnut in return by his constituency.

The New Yorker

Sure enough he was served his boxed lunch, which was labeled "Asian Delite".

The New York Times

He was served a glass of juice by one of the pirates.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using active voice when you want to focus on who is doing the serving. Example: "The waiter served him." This shifts the emphasis to the server.

Common error

Avoid using "he was served" when you actually mean "he served". The passive construction means someone else performed the action on him, not the other way around.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was served" primarily functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received something. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in English. The received item or action can range from food to legal documents, as demonstrated in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was served" is a grammatically sound and versatile passive construction commonly found in news and media. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to indicate that someone received something, be it a meal, legal document, or other action. The level of formality can shift from neutral to professional depending on the context, with authoritative sources like The New York Times frequently employing the phrase. When writing, remember that this passive voice construction emphasizes the recipient of the action rather than the performer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he received

Focuses on the act of receiving something, often a document or piece of information.

he was presented with

Formal way of saying he received something, often an award or opportunity.

he was given

Emphasizes the act of being given something, often a meal or opportunity.

he was provided with

Emphasizes the act of being supplied with something necessary.

he obtained

Highlights the act of gaining or acquiring something, usually through effort.

something was brought to him

Focuses on the act of something being delivered or presented to him.

he experienced

Focuses on the act of going through an event or situation.

he had

General way of indicating possession or experience.

he underwent

Implies a process or experience that someone goes through, often formal.

he faced

Highlights confrontation with a situation or challenge.

FAQs

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

Use "he was served" to describe someone receiving something, like "he was served dinner" or "he was served a summons". It indicates the action was done to him by someone else.

What's the difference between "he was served" and "he served"?

"He was served" is passive voice, meaning someone else performed the action on him. "He served" is active voice, meaning he performed the action. For example, "he was served breakfast" (someone gave him breakfast) versus "he served breakfast" (he gave breakfast to someone else).

What can I say instead of "he was served" when talking about food?

You can use alternatives like "he received his meal", "he was given his food", or "he had his meal" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "he was served" in a legal context?

Use "he was served" to indicate that someone has been formally notified of legal action against them. For example, "he was served with a subpoena" or "he was served a lawsuit".