no longer working

USAGE SUMMARY

"no longer working" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is not in operation or is inactive. For example: The old mill is no longer working, so the local economy has suffered greatly.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But those arrangements are no longer working.

The New Yorker

But it is no longer working.

The Economist

No longer working for me.

The Guardian

The device was no longer working.

The Guardian

(May is no longer working for Purdue).

The New Yorker

She's no longer working for Hillary.

The New York Times

True, the employees are no longer working.

The New York Times

At home, you were no longer working.

The New York Times

The method is no longer working?

The Guardian

They're no longer working at A.I.G.

The New York Times

Oil sanctions are no longer working.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical documentation, prefer more specific terms like "malfunctioning" or "offline" if the cause of the stoppage is known.

Common error

Avoid using "no longer working" as a pre-nominal modifier (e.g. "the no longer working printer"). In these cases, it is more elegant to use a single adjective like "broken" or a relative clause such as "the printer that is no longer working".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no longer working" serves as a predicative adjective phrase or an adverbial construction depending on its placement. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it most commonly follows a linking verb (like "is" or "was") to describe the current state of a subject. It consists of the adverbial phrase "no longer", which modifies the present participle "working" to denote the cessation of an action or state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "no longer working" is a robust and versatile expression in English. Ludwig AI identifies it as a correct and widely used way to describe the end of a functional state. Whether you are discussing a broken elevator, a failing political system or a change in a person's career path, this phrase provides a clear and professional way to communicate a shift from activity to inactivity. Given its high frequency in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist, it is a safe and effective choice for both academic and casual writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ceased to function

A more formal and clinical way to describe the end of operation.

no longer operational

Frequently used in business and technical contexts to describe systems or facilities.

out of order

Used specifically for mechanical or electronic equipment that is temporarily broken.

no longer effective

Focuses on the loss of efficiency or success rather than mechanical failure.

out of service

Commonly used for public utilities, transportation or professional services.

broken

A simpler and more colloquial alternative for physical objects.

defunct

Implies that a system, law or organization no longer exists or is no longer in use.

inactive

Suggests a state of being dormant or not currently in use without necessarily being broken.

malfunctioning

Specifies that the object is working but not correctly or as intended.

obsolete

Indicates that something is no longer used because it is outdated, even if it still physically works.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "no longer working"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "out of order", "ceased to function", or "no longer operational".

How do I use "no longer working" in a sentence?

You can use it for equipment, such as "The elevator is no longer working", or for abstract concepts, like "The old strategy is no longer working for our team".

Is "no longer working" formal enough for a business report?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable, though "no longer effective" or "out of service" might be more precise in specific professional contexts.

What is the difference between "no longer working" and "not working"?

While both indicate a lack of function, "no longer working" implies that the subject used to function in the past, whereas "not working" describes the current state without necessarily referencing a previous functional period.