passed into oblivion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "passed into oblivion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been forgotten or has faded from memory or existence. Example: "After the scandal, the once-popular actor passed into oblivion, rarely seen in public or on screen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

These moments passed into oblivion, unfixed by the camera — snapshots that went unsnapped.

The New York Times

Were it not for Benjamin Britten, he might have passed into oblivion.

The Guardian - Books

"What has puzzled me," David Popenoe has written, "is how fast my father's name passed into oblivion".

The New Yorker

Neanderthals passed into oblivion when they vanished from their last refuges in Spain and Portugal some 30,000 years ago.

The New York Times

It's a pity, though, that he passed into oblivion too soon to unleash his venom on Fifa.

The Guardian - Books

But "Third Person" is the kind of eccentric and emotionally exhausting movie whose ardent sincerity remains in memory after smoother, more conventional works have passed into oblivion.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Lena's in total rebellion against the fact that her life is going to pass into oblivion.

The New York Times

Certain phrases cycle in and out of child-rearing vogue, with "executive function" and "emotional intelligence" and "kinetic learning" zooming before parental headlights and then passing into oblivion until the next generation comes along.

The New York Times - Books

In the 1950s there was a revival of interest in his works, after which it seemed unlikely that, at least, Lucia di Lammermoor, L'elisir d'amore, and Don Pasquale would be allowed to pass into oblivion.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In truth, black orthodoxy, as embodied both by the traditional entrenched black (male) political leadership and by the more recently emerged black (male) academics and public intellectuals, is passing into oblivion.

The New York Times - Books

The hospital gift shop, the newsstand, where you linger, staring at headlines already passing into oblivion, while upstairs, in your husband's room, an attendant is changing bedclothes or sponge-bathing the patient behind a gauze screen, unless he has been taken to Radiology for further X-rays, awaiting his turn in another corridor, on another floor.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passed into oblivion" to describe events, people, or ideas that have been completely forgotten or have ceased to be relevant. It's particularly effective when emphasizing the finality of their disappearance from memory or existence.

Common error

Avoid using "passed into oblivion" when you simply mean something is not well-known or has lost prominence. Oblivion suggests complete erasure, whereas obscurity implies a lack of widespread recognition. If something could potentially be rediscovered or remembered, obscurity is the more accurate term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passed into oblivion" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as a predicate to describe the state of something being completely forgotten or lost to memory. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "passed into oblivion" effectively describes the state of being completely forgotten or lost to memory. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness, suggesting it is an appropriate choice for expressing complete erasure. While alternatives like "faded into obscurity" exist for contexts where partial forgetting is meant, "passed into oblivion" emphasizes finality. Its usage is deemed neutral, appearing across various sources, including news and encyclopedias. Although it is a valid and semantically rich expression, its occurrences are not as frequent as some of its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became forgotten

A more direct and simple way of expressing the idea of being lost to memory.

faded into obscurity

Focuses on the gradual loss of visibility or recognition, rather than complete disappearance.

slipped into oblivion

Suggests a subtle and unnoticed descent into being forgotten.

sunk into forgetfulness

Focuses on the process of being forgotten, rather than the state of being forgotten.

vanished from memory

Highlights the disappearance from people's recollections.

became a thing of the past

Indicates that something is no longer relevant or current.

fell into disuse

Applies primarily to practices or objects that are no longer utilized.

ceased to exist

Emphasizes the complete termination of something's existence, not just its memory.

disappeared without a trace

Highlights the completeness and inexplicability of the disappearance.

dissolved into nothingness

Implies a more profound and complete disappearance, often with metaphysical connotations.

FAQs

How can I use "passed into oblivion" in a sentence?

The phrase "passed into oblivion" typically describes something completely forgotten or no longer relevant. For example: "Many ancient customs have "passed into oblivion" over the centuries."

What's a more common alternative to "passed into oblivion"?

While "passed into oblivion" is correct, phrases like "faded into obscurity" or "became forgotten" are more frequently used in contemporary English.

Is it appropriate to use "passed into oblivion" in formal writing?

Yes, "passed into oblivion" is suitable for formal writing. However, ensure the context warrants the strong sense of complete disappearance that the phrase conveys.

What is the difference between "passed into oblivion" and "passed into history"?

"Passed into history" means something is recorded and remembered as part of the past, while "passed into oblivion" implies it has been completely forgotten. They represent opposite outcomes for past events or figures.