it was unimaginable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was unimaginable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something was beyond comprehension or difficult to conceive at a certain time or in a specific context. Example: "When I first heard the news, it was unimaginable that such a tragedy could occur in our community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

WA Labor's Aboriginal affairs spokesman, Ben Wyatt, said it was unimaginable that the government still hadn't finalised its criteria for closing remote communities.

The Guardian

At the time, it was unimaginable that the obdurate greed of the team or its broadcast rights holder, Time Warner Cable, would continue for another season.

Los Angeles Times

Many people were murdered – it was unimaginable".

The Guardian

"It was unimaginable that the average American man would volunteer".

The New York Times - Health

"It was unimaginable at the time," Fatty said.

The New Yorker

Some time ago, it was unimaginable to combine a flail and tiller, mostly because power demands were too high.

Journal of Terramechanics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

By now, it's unimaginable that were Yahoo to sell those assets, its value would be $0.

TechCrunch

It's unimaginable now.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's unimaginable.

The New York Times - Sports

It's unimaginable". It dies hard.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's unimaginable how bad it is".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was unimaginable" to express strong disbelief or the seeming impossibility of something based on past knowledge or expectations. Frame it within a specific context or timeframe to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "it was unimaginable" in situations that are merely surprising or unexpected, rather than genuinely beyond the realm of possibility based on prior understanding. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was unimaginable" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a strong sense of disbelief or the perceived impossibility of something in retrospect. The Ludwig examples show it describing situations that were beyond the realm of possibility based on past knowledge or expectations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

15%

Science

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was unimaginable" is a powerful tool for expressing disbelief or the perceived impossibility of something in retrospect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used across various domains, including news, academia, and science. The phrase serves to emphasize how dramatically circumstances have changed or how unrealistic an idea once seemed, highlighting the contrast between past expectations and present reality. When using "it was unimaginable", consider the context and timeframe to ensure clarity and avoid overuse in situations that are merely surprising, rather than genuinely beyond the realm of possibility. Semantically similar alternatives such as "it was inconceivable" or "it was unthinkable", can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was inconceivable

Emphasizes the difficulty in grasping or understanding something.

it was unthinkable

Highlights the idea that something was beyond consideration or possibility.

it was beyond belief

Focuses on the incredulity or astonishment associated with something.

it was beyond comprehension

Stresses the inability to fully understand or grasp something.

it was impossible to imagine

Directly states the impossibility of forming a mental picture of something.

it defied imagination

Suggests that something was so extraordinary that it exceeded the limits of imagination.

it beggared belief

Implies that something was so remarkable that it strained credulity.

it was out of the question

Highlights the impossibility of something happening or being considered.

it was unheard of

Emphasizes the novelty or unprecedented nature of something.

it was without precedent

Focuses on the lack of any prior example or occurrence of something.

FAQs

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

Use "it was unimaginable" to express disbelief or impossibility based on past expectations. For example, "Before the internet, "it was unimaginable" that people could connect instantly across the globe."

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

You can use alternatives like "it was inconceivable", "it was unthinkable", or "it was beyond belief" depending on the context.

Is "it was unimaginable" the same as "it is unimaginable"?

No, "it was unimaginable" refers to something that was considered impossible or beyond comprehension in the past, while "it is unimaginable" refers to something that is currently considered impossible or beyond comprehension. The tense changes the timeframe.

What's the difference between "it was unimaginable" and "it was improbable"?

"It was unimaginable" suggests something was considered impossible, whereas "it was improbable" suggests something was unlikely but still possible. The former expresses stronger disbelief than the latter.