not been touched

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not been touched" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something has remained unchanged or undisturbed. Example: "The painting has not been touched since it was last restored." Alternative expressions include "left untouched" and "remained unaltered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My room has literally not been touched.

The Guardian

The room had not been touched since he died.

The New Yorker

Delise said she had not been touched by cancer.

The New York Times - Sports

he storeroom had not been touched at all.

The Guardian - Arts

The papers were intact; fingerprint analysis soon established that they had not been touched.

The New Yorker

The houses of their Russian neighbors, however, had not been touched.

The New Yorker

The officials initially ruled the ball had not been touched, but the call was overturned.

The New York Times - Sports

Some had been hit for relics, but most had not been touched since the 1860s.

The New York Times

In fact, their social position and its economic basis, their estates, had not been touched.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"They have not been touched," Mr. Dallal said of the bodies.

The New York Times

'The halal butcher has not been touched, neither has the pizzeria, owned by a Moroccan.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not been touched" to emphasize that something has remained in its original state, unaltered by external forces or actions. It is particularly effective when describing historical artifacts, untouched nature, or emotional states unaffected by trauma.

Common error

Avoid using "not been touched" when an active voice construction would be more appropriate and direct. For example, instead of "The artifact has not been touched by anyone", consider "No one has touched the artifact."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not been touched" primarily functions as a passive construction, often used as part of a predicate to describe the state of a noun, indicating it has remained unaltered or undisturbed. Ludwig AI examples illustrate this use across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not been touched" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey that something has remained unaltered or undisturbed. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general narratives. While alternatives like "left untouched" or "unaffected" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Be mindful of opting for an active voice when it provides a more direct and impactful statement. Ultimately, "not been touched" is a reliable phrase for emphasizing a state of pristine condition or lack of interaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

left untouched

Emphasizes the act of leaving something in its original state, without any intervention.

untouched by

Emphasizes the absence of influence or effect from a specific source.

remained undisturbed

Highlights the continuation of a state of peace or lack of disruption.

unaffected

Focuses on the absence of impact or influence on something.

unaltered

Stresses the lack of change or modification to something.

without modification

Highlights the absence of changes made to something.

intact

Suggests completeness and undamaged condition.

preserved

Implies deliberate maintenance of something in its original condition.

unscathed

Highlights the lack of injury or harm.

unharmed

Focuses on the absence of physical damage.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "not been touched" in a sentence?

You can replace "not been touched" with phrases like "left untouched", "remained undisturbed", or "unaffected" to convey a similar meaning.

What does it mean when something has "not been touched"?

When something has "not been touched", it means it has remained in its original state, without being altered, affected, or used in any way. It implies a lack of interaction or intervention.

Is it better to use "untouched" or "not been touched"?

Both "untouched" and "not been touched" can be correct, but "untouched" is often more concise and direct. "Not been touched" is useful when you want to emphasize the process or action of not touching.

How do you use "not been touched" to describe an emotional state?

You can use "not been touched" metaphorically to describe an emotional state that has remained pure, innocent, or unaffected by negative experiences. For example, "an emptiness that has "not been touched" since my children were taken from me".