it was commandeered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was commandeered" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where something has been taken or seized, often by authority or force. Example: "During the emergency, the vehicle was commandeered by the police to transport injured individuals to the hospital."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

David Gohlich, the company commander, said the house had been used as an insurgent base for the last five or six months after it was commandeered from a wealthy Shiite family, which was forced out.

The New York Times

And with the growing crowds — 250,000 so far this season, twice the rate of last year — come other signs that an island is not necessarily the perfect retreat and can also fail at being not-the-city: at one recent event the ferry back to terra firma was delayed nearly an hour as it was commandeered to rush a festivalgoer, who had reportedly overdosed on drugs, to a Brooklyn hospital.

The New York Times - Arts

On 8 May 1972, a Sabena Airlines 707 was forced to land in Tel Aviv after it was commandeered by four Black September commandos who demanded the release of 317 fedayeen fighters being held in Israeli jails.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Though dating and jerking it were commandeered by the web long ago, it's only served as a kind of middleman so far.

Vice

By 5 November, red flags had been raised on every battleship in the harbor except König, though it too was commandeered by a sailors' council on 6 November.

Wikipedia

A group marched from East Beirut to the offices of Future Television, a satellite channel that was commandeered by the army after Hezbollah supporters threatened it on Friday.

The New York Times

Before it could be delivered, however, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the new refrigerator was commandeered by the military as scrap metal.

Huffington Post

When a private car was commandeered to transport a machine gun, one of the civilians in it overheard an order "to drive everyone out and burn the colony".

The New Yorker

A concrete-walled storage room was commandeered for a production studio.

The New York Times

Within days, our house was commandeered as an officers' mess hall.

The New York Times

In 1945, the house was commandeered, along with the rest of the neighborhood, by the Red Army.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was commandeered" when you want to emphasize that something was taken for immediate use, often during an emergency or by someone in authority. This implies a temporary taking rather than permanent ownership.

Common error

Avoid using "it was commandeered" when a more appropriate term like "stolen" or "borrowed" would better reflect the situation. Commandeering implies authority or urgent necessity, which may not always be the case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was commandeered" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject (it) was the recipient of the action (commandeered). This passive construction emphasizes the object taken rather than the actor doing the taking. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was commandeered" is a grammatically correct passive construction that describes something being taken for use, often under authority or in an emergency. Ludwig AI shows it's most commonly found in News & Media and Wiki sources. Synonyms include "it was seized" and "it was requisitioned", but "commandeered" carries a specific connotation of temporary and authorized taking. To ensure clarity, it should only be used when the taking truly reflects authority or necessity and not just simple borrowing or theft. The examples provided demonstrate its usage across various contexts, highlighting its neutral to formal register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was seized

Focuses on the act of taking possession forcefully or suddenly, often by legal authority or military action.

it was requisitioned

Emphasizes the formal taking of something for official or public use, typically during wartime or emergencies.

it was appropriated

Highlights the act of taking something for one's own use, sometimes without permission or improperly.

it was taken over

Suggests assuming control or management of something, often an organization or business.

it was expropriated

Implies the government taking private property for public use, often with compensation.

it was confiscated

Involves seizing property by authority, usually because it is illegal or has been used in a crime.

it was impounded

Refers to the seizure of something, especially a vehicle, for a violation of the law.

it was hijacked

Specifically refers to the unlawful seizure of a vehicle, such as an airplane or ship, often by force.

it was usurped

Implies wrongfully seizing power or authority.

it was arrogated

Highlights claiming or seizing something without justification.

FAQs

What does "it was commandeered" mean?

The phrase "it was commandeered" means that something was taken or seized for use, often temporarily and by someone with authority, especially during an emergency or military operation.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "it was commandeered"?

Use "it was commandeered" when describing a situation where something has been taken for immediate use under authority, such as a vehicle "seized" by the military or a building "requisitioned" for emergency services.

Are there any synonyms for "it was commandeered"?

Yes, synonyms include "it was seized", "it was requisitioned", or "it was appropriated", each carrying slightly different connotations depending on the context.

How does "it was commandeered" differ from "it was stolen"?

"It was commandeered" implies a temporary and authorized taking for a specific purpose, whereas "it was stolen" implies an illegal and permanent taking without permission.