it was booked

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was booked" is a grammatically correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that has been previously reserved or arranged. For example, "I was planning to attend the concert, but all the tickets had already been booked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

But at the time it was booked through 2020.

The New Yorker

It was booked through Hays Travel of Sunderland.

The Guardian - Money

He tried to get on her flight, but it was booked.

The New York Times

In six weeks, it was booked for the rest of the year.

The New Yorker

It was "booked pretty solid" for the Labor Day weekend, Sam Scarmardo, the owner, told Reuters.

The New Yorker

Steinway told him to wait -- it was booked for at least 12 months.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

It's booked.

The Guardian - Books

It's booked in advance and prearranged".

The New York Times - Travel

It's "book".

The New Yorker

It is book-ended with dreams.

The Economist

It is book number 13.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was booked" to clearly communicate that a resource, time, or service is already reserved and not available. This phrase is universally understood and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it is booked" when referring to a past event or reservation. The past tense "it was booked" correctly indicates that the booking occurred in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was booked" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that something (a room, a flight, an appointment) has already been reserved by someone. Ludwig provides several examples where the expression is used to convey unavailability due to prior booking.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Travel

16%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was booked" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that something has already been reserved. As Ludwig AI clarifies, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, travel, and business. While simple, it clearly conveys unavailability due to prior reservation. For more formal scenarios, alternatives like "it was reserved" may be considered. Remember to maintain proper tense, using "it was booked" for past events and "it is booked" for present states. The examples provided highlight its versatility and consistent usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was reserved

Replaces "booked" with "reserved", a direct synonym, maintaining identical meaning.

it had been booked

Uses past perfect tense for emphasis on booking occurring earlier.

it was fully booked

Adds "fully" to emphasize complete booking, slightly amplifying the original meaning.

it was not available

Simple negation of availability, offering a more straightforward alternative.

it was taken

Uses "taken" as a more general term for unavailable, broadening the scope slightly.

it was unavailable

Replaces the booking concept with general unavailability, a broader interpretation.

all slots were filled

Focuses on the state of slots being completely occupied, altering perspective.

there were no vacancies

Shifts focus to the lack of available slots or spaces, changing the structure.

there was no room

Indicates lack of space or capacity, changing the expression's core imagery.

it was already scheduled

Specifies that the item or time was previously assigned to another event or person.

FAQs

How can I use "it was booked" in a sentence?

You can use "it was booked" to indicate that a reservation or arrangement had already been made. For example, "I tried to book the venue, but "it was booked" for a private event".

What's a formal alternative to "it was booked"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "it was reserved" or "the reservation had already been made" to convey a similar meaning with increased formality.

Is it correct to say "it is booked" instead of "it was booked"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "It is booked" implies a present state of being booked, while ""it was booked"" refers to a past event or previously made arrangement.

What does "it was booked solid" mean?

"It was booked solid" means that every available slot or space had been reserved; there was absolutely no availability. It emphasizes the completeness of the booking.