he was touched

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was touched" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that someone was emotionally affected or moved by a situation or gesture. Example: "When he heard the heartfelt speech, he was touched by the kindness of the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"He was touched," Mitchell said.

The New York Times - Sports

He was touched, impressed and grateful.

The Guardian - Opinion

He was touched by all the comments about him.

Independent

He was touched by something, an aura of fate.

The New Yorker

General Musharraf said he was "touched" and "grateful".

The Economist

But he was touched when told of it later.

The New York Times - Sports

I felt like he was touched by the character.

The Guardian - Film

He was touched by a batch of letters from an eighth-grade English class in Georgia.

The New York Times - Sports

He said he was touched by the fans who cheered him on the set.

The New York Times

"Cazorla told me he was touched," Wenger said after the game.

The New York Times - Sports

Yesterday, Prince Felipe made it known he was touched by Nadal's gesture.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, ensure the context clearly explains why "he was touched". Provide details about the event or action that elicited the emotional response for greater impact.

Common error

Avoid using "he was touched" in contexts where physical contact is the intended meaning. If describing a physical touch, choose a more specific verb to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was touched" primarily functions as a declarative statement describing someone's emotional state. It typically follows a subject and a form of the verb 'to be', indicating that the subject experienced a feeling of gratitude, appreciation, or emotional connection. As Ludwig AI explains, it accurately reflects a feeling of being moved by something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was touched" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe someone's emotional response, often in a positive or appreciative way. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is a suitable expression of gratitude, empathy, or emotional connection. Primarily found in News & Media, according to Ludwig's analysis, its usage spans from formal to informal contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates the reason for the emotional response to maximize clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he felt moved

This alternative directly replaces "touched" with "moved", maintaining a high degree of semantic similarity.

he was moved

This alternative removes 'felt' still conveying a feeling of being emotionally impacted.

he was affected

This alternative is slightly more general, indicating an impact without specifying the emotional nature.

he was impressed

This suggests a feeling of admiration or respect, implying a positive emotional response.

he was grateful

This alternative highlights thankfulness as the primary emotion.

he was inspired

This suggests a feeling of motivation or creativity as a result of the experience.

he was saddened

This implies the emotional impact was of sadness.

he felt sympathy

This focuses on the feeling of compassion or sorrow for someone else.

it resonated with him

This alternative describes a deeper, more personal connection or understanding.

he was stirred

This suggests that his emotions were strongly provoked

FAQs

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

Use "he was touched" to describe someone experiencing a feeling of gratitude, appreciation, or emotional connection. For example, "He was touched by the outpouring of support from his community."

What are some alternatives to "he was touched"?

Alternatives include "he was moved", "he felt grateful", or "he was affected", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "he was touched" in formal writing?

Yes, "he was touched" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. It's a versatile phrase that effectively conveys emotion in various contexts.

What's the difference between "he was touched" and "he was moved"?

While both phrases indicate an emotional response, "he was touched" often implies a gentler, more tender feeling, while "he was moved" can suggest a stronger, more profound emotional impact.