it was ceded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was ceded" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of giving up or relinquishing control or possession of something, often in a formal or legal context. Example: "After lengthy negotiations, it was ceded to the neighboring country as part of the peace treaty."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Formerly known as Bessarabia, this region was an integral part of the Romanian principality of Moldavia until 1812, when it was ceded to Russia by its suzerain, the sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It passed to Bavaria in 1802, losing its territories and immunities, and in 1810 it was ceded to Württemberg.

Britannica

Its development as a sugar colony began when it was ceded to Britain in 1763 and continued throughout the period from 1763 to 1814, during which time Tobago changed hands between Britain and France several times.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Bukovina acquired its own name and identity only in 1774, when it was ceded to Austria by the Turks, who then controlled Moldavia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Verona fell to Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1387 and in 1405 to Venice, which held it, apart from its occupation by Emperor Maximilian I (1509 17), until 1797, when it was ceded to Austria by Napoleon I at the Treaty of Campo Formio.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Venice was granted the island in 1485, to prevent its falling to the Turks, and held it until 1797, when it was ceded to France by the Treaty of Campo Formio.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Mark's appearance before MPs came 24 hours after the Co-op Group had to admit it was ceding control of its bank – for which Marks had once harboured huge ambitions - to hedge funds.

The Guardian - Business

Google's cooperation with Mozilla, however friendly, meant that it was ceding control of the Internet's vital gateway technology — and the dominant supplier of that technology is its archrival, Microsoft.

The New York Times - Tech

History of Gorizia, an attractive Italian border-town some 20 miles from Trieste, for which Tito has repeatedly demaned that it be ceded to Yugoslavia.

The New Yorker

The idea of parts of it being ceded to Israel was met with disbelieving laughter from Izzat Gosheh, 48, the owner of a fruit and vegetable shop.

The Guardian

The New Yorker, October 21 , 1950 P. 70History of Gorizia, an attractive Italian border-town some 20 miles from Trieste, for which Tito has repeatedly demaned that it be ceded to Yugoslavia.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was ceded", ensure the context clearly indicates who ceded the item and to whom it was ceded. This avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it was ceded" without specifying the entities involved in the transfer. For instance, instead of saying "it was ceded", clarify with "the territory was ceded by France to England".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was ceded" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something (typically land, territory, or rights) was formally given up or transferred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. Examples show its usage in historical and political contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

38%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

26%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was ceded" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to describe the formal transfer of something, such as territory or rights, from one entity to another. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable. It's most frequently found in encyclopedias and news media, suggesting a formal to neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who ceded what to whom. Alternatives like "it was relinquished" or "it was surrendered" offer similar meanings with slightly different connotations. Pay attention to the specific entities involved in the transfer when using "it was ceded" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was relinquished

Focuses on the act of voluntarily giving something up.

it was surrendered

Emphasizes submission and yielding under pressure.

it was transferred

Highlights the movement of something from one entity to another.

it was handed over

Suggests a more informal or direct transfer of possession.

it was yielded

Implies a reluctant giving up of something, often after resistance.

it was conveyed

Emphasizes the legal transfer of ownership.

it was granted

Focuses on the act of formally giving or bestowing something.

it was assigned

Highlights the allocation of something to a specific recipient.

it was passed on

Suggests the continuation of something by transferring it to another.

it was bequeathed

Refers to the transfer of something through a will or inheritance.

FAQs

How to use "it was ceded" in a sentence?

Use "it was ceded" to indicate that something was formally given up or transferred to another party. For example, "The island /s/it+was+ceded was ceded to the British after the treaty".

What can I say instead of "it was ceded"?

You can use alternatives like "it was relinquished", "it was surrendered", or "it was transferred" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it was ceded" or "it was seeded"?

"It was ceded" is correct when referring to the act of giving up or transferring something, while "it was seeded" refers to planting seeds. They have completely different meanings and contexts.

What's the difference between "it was ceded" and "it was conquered"?

"It was ceded" implies a formal or negotiated transfer of control, whereas "it was conquered" indicates that control was taken by force.