it was invaded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was invaded" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where a place or territory has been taken over by force or without permission. Example: "The peaceful village was shocked to learn that it was invaded during the night by an unknown army."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Hungary didn't give up its Jewish population until it was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1944.

The Guardian

Estonia for those not aware of the country is a former Soviet Republic that this year is celebrating 90th anniversary of its initial independence, before it was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940.

TechCrunch

It then became a province of the Maharajanate of Majapahit and was called by its Sanskrit title, "षेलुरोन्ग्" (Selurong) before it was invaded by Brunei's Sultan Bolkiah and renamed كوتا سلودونڠ (Kota Saludong) or simply Maynilà, from the word "Maynilad", a native Tagalog term indicating the presence of Nila, a flowering mangrove plant once abundant in the area.

Wikipedia

Ethiopia maintains that it was invaded two years ago and has made no secret of its desire to punish Eritrea for that.

The New York Times

Hastily ditched by its colonial ruler, Portugal, after that country's revolution in 1974, it was invaded by Indonesia the next year.

The Economist

Ethiopia said it was invaded.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

We need segregated buses--it was invading space and stuff.

Huffington Post

"I was a modern-day janissary," he observes, "a servant of the American empire at a time when it was invading a country with a kinship to mine..."...

The Guardian - Books

"It was invading my privacy and I didn't know what he was doing.

BBC

Then if you come here after 3, it's invaded by kids".

The New York Times

When it is invaded, the twins are separated and each sets out to reunite their family - and defeat the enemy, of course.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing historical events or conflicts, use "it was invaded" to clearly indicate that a territory or area was entered by a hostile force. This passive construction emphasizes the recipient of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "it was invaded" when you mean "it was visited" or "it was explored". "Invaded" specifically implies a hostile takeover, not just any entry.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was invaded" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a subject (typically a place or territory) was the recipient of an action (invasion). Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in describing historical events and conflicts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

16%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Science

12%

The Guardian - Books

4%

Huffington Post

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was invaded" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction, as affirmed by Ludwig. It serves to describe situations where a place or territory has been forcibly entered by an external force. Common in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Wiki, the phrase maintains a neutral tone suitable for both formal and informal communication. While the phrase is clear, it's crucial to avoid confusing "invaded" with similar terms like "visited" or "explored", as "invaded" specifically implies a hostile takeover. For alternative expressions, consider options like "it came under attack" or "it was stormed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it came under attack

Focuses on the action of being attacked, implying a violent or forceful entry.

it was stormed

Suggests a sudden and forceful invasion.

it was overrun

Emphasizes the idea of being overwhelmed by invaders.

it suffered an invasion

Nominalizes the verb 'invade', focusing on the event of the invasion itself.

it was occupied

Highlights the result of the invasion, emphasizing control by the invading force.

it was conquered

Implies a successful invasion resulting in subjugation.

it was breached

Focuses on the breaking of defenses during an invasion.

it was entered forcefully

Emphasizes the use of force during the entry.

it was trespassed upon

More formal and less common, emphasizing the violation of boundaries.

invaders took it over

Active voice version that highlights the invaders.

FAQs

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

Use "it was invaded" to describe a place or territory that has been entered by a hostile force. For example, "The country suffered greatly after "it was invaded" by a neighboring nation".

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

You can use alternatives like "it came under attack", "it was stormed", or "it was overrun" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "it was invaded" or "it had been invaded"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they have different meanings. "It was invaded" refers to a single event in the past. "It had been invaded" implies that the invasion occurred before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "it was invaded" and "it was occupied"?

"It was invaded" describes the act of entering a territory with a hostile force, while "it was occupied" describes the state of being controlled by a foreign power following an invasion.