lived through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lived through" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a sentence to show that someone experienced something, usually a difficult or challenging situation: My mother lived through the Great Depression and always stressed the importance of being frugal.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Each happy hour I lived through again".

The New York Times - Books

We lived through Stalin.

The New Yorker

"I lived through this.

The New York Times

"We've all lived through it.

The New York Times - Sports

They lived through the war.

The New York Times - Magazine

I lived through the process.

The New York Times

We already lived through it.

The New York Times - Sports

I lived through the war.

Independent

They had lived through it.

The New York Times - Arts

They've lived through worse.

The Washington Post

"I've lived through that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lived through" to emphasize personal experience and endurance, particularly when referring to challenging or significant historical events.

Common error

Avoid using "lived through" for minor inconveniences; reserve it for situations that involved genuine hardship or significant impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lived through" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that someone has experienced and survived a particular event, often one that was challenging or significant. Ludwig confirms this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lived through" is a common and grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe the act of experiencing and surviving a particular event or period. As Ludwig confirms, it's used effectively in various contexts, primarily in news and media. It conveys a sense of endurance and resilience, often in the face of hardship. When using "lived through", ensure the context warrants the implication of surviving something significant, and consider alternatives like "experienced" or "endured" for different nuances. The phrase is considered neutral in register, making it suitable for various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

survived

Specifically indicates overcoming a dangerous or life-threatening situation.

gone through

A more general term for experiencing something, without specifying the nature of the experience.

been through

Similar to "gone through" but can imply a deeper or more personal experience.

experienced

Focuses on having gone through something, often without the implication of difficulty or survival.

weathered

Suggests enduring a storm or difficult period and emerging successfully.

endured

Emphasizes bearing hardship or suffering through something difficult.

coped with

Focuses on the act of managing or dealing with a difficult situation.

witnessed

Highlights observing an event, rather than necessarily being personally affected by it.

faced

Highlights confronting a challenge or difficulty directly.

navigated

Implies skillful handling of a complex or challenging situation.

FAQs

How can I use "lived through" in a sentence?

Use "lived through" to describe an experience, especially a difficult one, that someone has survived. For example, "She "lived through" the war and shared her story".

What's a good alternative to "lived through"?

Depending on the context, you could use "experienced", "endured", or "survived" as alternatives to "lived through".

Is it appropriate to use "lived through" to describe a positive experience?

While "lived through" can be used for any experience, it's more commonly used to describe surviving difficult or challenging events. For positive experiences, consider using "experienced" instead.

What is the difference between "gone through" and "lived through"?

"Gone through" is a more general phrase for experiencing something. "Lived through" implies enduring or surviving something, often difficult or significant, adding a layer of resilience not present in "gone through".