in bodily form

USAGE SUMMARY

"in bodily form" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe things that are tangible or physical. For example, "We believe that God exists in bodily form."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Hebraism meets Hellenism in bodily form.

The Guardian - Books

It enacts Crane's nightmares, representing the unconscious in bodily form.

The Economist

The dead return only in bodily form to be received by families who must be reassured their dead have sacrificed for a purpose worthy of futures lost, love vanished, and promised dreams unkept.

The New Yorker

Some organisms, such as flukes, have life cycles that take them literally through one or more host organisms, and many insects undergo significant metamorphic changes in bodily form through their life cycle.

SEP

In numerous other passages, many Christian readers hold, the preincarnate Son of God is mentioned, or even appears in bodily form to do the bidding of his Father, and is (so they believe) sometimes called the "angel of the Lord".

SEP

A man I recently met commented on how crowded it must be "up there" if everyone is in bodily form.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Tirzah Bassel renders specific details in duct tape, working pesky folds into bodily form.

Huffington Post

In Mayer's gender-bending rewrite, Daisy became Davey, a gay florist, whose previous self is a female jazz singer from the forties, and the psychiatrist, played by Harry Connick, Jr., becomes enamored with the jazz singer in the bodily form of the florist, who in turn crushes on the psychiatrist.

The New Yorker

Discovered in 1984, the slender-limbed, long-legged Nariokotome skeleton is the first solid evidence of an individual that resembled H. sapiens in overall bodily form.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"And when it concentrated itself, it appeared to us in the bodily form of a small and humble human, and he said to us: 'Peace to you, sons of my hidden mysteries.'… the inhabitants of the world cannot bear to see the glory of the only Son of the Father of majesty, unless it appeared for them in the form of their world".

Los Angeles Times

The Principle No. 6, "Corporalita" means "the state of being in physical or bodily form rather than spiritual form" in accordance to MSN Encarta.

Visualization in Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in bodily form" to emphasize the physical and tangible aspect of something, especially when contrasting it with a non-physical or abstract state. For example, use it to describe a spirit taking on a physical body.

Common error

Avoid using "in bodily form" interchangeably with phrases like "in good form" or "in proper shape", as they have different meanings. "In bodily form" specifically refers to physical manifestation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in bodily form" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, specifying the manner or state of existence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a tangible or physical aspect. Examples show its use in describing spirits, deities, or abstract concepts taking on physical manifestations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in bodily form" is a prepositional phrase used to emphasize the tangible, physical manifestation of something, often contrasting it with an abstract or spiritual state. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and usable in written English, serving to highlight physical presence. While of "Uncommon" frequency, its usage spans across "News & Media", "Science" and "Encyclopedias", maintaining a neutral to formal register. When writing, be mindful not to confuse it with similar-sounding phrases like "in good form". Alternatives include "in human form" and "in physical form", but the best choice depends on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in corporeal form

Replaces "bodily" with its synonym "corporeal", maintaining the same meaning.

in physical form

Substitutes "bodily" with "physical", offering a more common alternative.

in human form

Focuses specifically on the form being human, limiting the generality.

in tangible form

Highlights the tangibility of the form, suitable when physical touch is relevant.

in embodied form

Emphasizes the aspect of embodiment, where something abstract takes physical shape.

in material form

Highlights the material existence, often used when contrasting with spiritual or abstract forms.

in the flesh

An idiomatic expression highlighting the physical and tangible presence.

with a physical body

A more descriptive alternative, clarifying that the subject possesses a physical body.

physically present

Emphasizes the physical presence rather than the specific form.

manifested physically

Focuses on the act of physical manifestation or appearance.

FAQs

What does "in bodily form" mean?

The phrase "in bodily form" refers to something existing in a physical, tangible state, often contrasting with a spiritual or abstract existence. It implies a physical manifestation.

When is it appropriate to use "in bodily form" in writing?

Use "in bodily form" when you want to emphasize the physical manifestation of something, such as a spirit or idea taking on a physical presence. It's suitable when contrasting physical and non-physical states.

What can I say instead of "in bodily form"?

You can use alternatives like "in human form", "in physical form", or "in corporeal form" depending on the context.

How does "in bodily form" differ from "in good form"?

"In bodily form" refers to physical manifestation, while "in good form" means in a satisfactory condition or state. They are not interchangeable.