is used up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is used up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been consumed or exhausted completely. Example: "After the long meeting, my energy is used up, and I need a break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

When a character is used up, they have to go.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But a big part of his time is used up in the treatment area".

The New York Times - Sports

Repeat until the stock is used up, or the pearl barley is soft and swollen.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Man will find substitutes for metal & fuel as it is used up, but not for water.

The New Yorker

When the box of matches is used up, he will be done.

The Guardian - Books

When that sugar is used up, the body switches to fat for fuel.

The New York Times - Magazine

However, a large part of the harnessed energy is used up by the metabolic processes of the producers (respiration).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Meanwhile, the power of those nodes is used up, so the lifespan of the network is shortened.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Even if fossil fuel is used up in the future, it can easily find non-fossil fuel as replacement.

European Transport Research Review

And once the $650,000 is used up, taxes kick in at rates that start at 37%.

Forbes

Once it is used up, you can't get it back.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the consumption of resources or energy, use "is used up" to clearly convey that the resource is fully exhausted and no longer available. For example, "The battery's power is used up after only two hours of usage."

Common error

Avoid using "is used up" when you mean partially used or consumed. This phrase emphasizes complete exhaustion. If something is only partially consumed, consider phrases like "partially used" or "a portion is consumed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is used up" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject has been fully consumed or exhausted. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Wiki

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is used up" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has been completely consumed or exhausted. Ludwig AI's analysis, supported by numerous real-world examples from sources like The Guardian, The New York Times, and Wikipedia, indicates that it's most frequently used in news and media, science, and general writing contexts. While "is used up" is generally acceptable, it is important to understand the nuances of alternative terms like "is depleted" or "is exhausted" to ensure the most precise and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is consumed

Indicates that something has been completely eaten or destroyed by fire.

is depleted

Implies a reduction in quantity or amount of something.

is exhausted

Suggests that something has been completely used and is no longer available.

has run out

Suggests the supply of something has been completely used.

is finished

Means that something has come to an end or has been completed.

is all gone

Indicates that something no longer exists because it has been used or consumed.

is expended

Suggests that something has been used completely, often with effort.

is spent

Implies that something has been used, often referring to time or money.

is no more

A more dramatic way of saying something has ceased to exist or is completely used.

is terminated

Indicates a formal ending or conclusion.

FAQs

How can I use "is used up" in a sentence?

The phrase "is used up" indicates that something has been completely consumed or exhausted. For example, "The printer ink is used up, so we need to buy a new cartridge".

What's the difference between "is depleted" and "is used up"?

"Is depleted" and "is used up" are similar, but "is depleted" often refers to a gradual reduction, whereas "is used up" implies complete exhaustion. For instance, you might say a resource is depleted over time, but the battery is used up after an hour of play.

What can I say instead of "is used up"?

You can use alternatives like "is consumed", "is exhausted", or "has run out" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was used up" instead of "is used up"?

Yes, "was used up" is the past tense form and is correct when referring to something that has been completely consumed or exhausted in the past. For example, "All the milk was used up during breakfast".