placed first

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "placed first" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the position of something when it is first in a series or in a list. For example, "The blue marble was placed first in the circle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(He placed first anyway).

The New York Times - Sports

Karl Schnabl placed first, and Anton Innauer, second.

The New Yorker

Germany placed first in the second heat.

The Guardian - Sport

The Cornell A and B boats placed first and second.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Senure, trained by Bobby Frankel, was placed first.

The New York Times - Sports

American Airlines Center, home to the Dallas Mavericks, placed first.

The Washington Post

She also placed first in two other 100-mile races.

The New York Times

Live patients' safety is placed first by placing live patients last in the students' curriculum.

Clinical Simulation Operations, Engineering, and Management

Wellington Management placed first overall, followed by Bertucci's Pizza and Auto Palace, Turner said.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In the rankings of individual MBA specialties, MIT placed first in information systems and production/operations.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Asari's team placed first out of the 22 two-player men's teams.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "placed first" when you want to clearly and concisely state that something or someone achieved the top position in a competition, ranking, or list. It's direct and easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "placed first" when a more active verb would be appropriate. For example, instead of "The emphasis was placed first on safety," consider "Safety was prioritized".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "placed first" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to indicate that a subject has achieved the highest rank or position in a competition, ranking, or list. Ludwig AI validates its standard grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "placed first" is a grammatically sound and very common way to express that something or someone has achieved the top position in a competition, ranking, or list. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Academia, and Science. While alternatives like "ranked highest" or "took first place" exist, "placed first" offers a direct and universally understood way to convey this meaning. Remember to avoid passive constructions like "was placed first" for stronger writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ranked highest

Uses "ranked" instead of "placed", emphasizing a formal ranking system.

took first place

Uses "took" instead of "placed", suggesting a more active winning.

finished in first position

More formal and descriptive, using "position" instead of the simpler "place".

came in first

A more informal way of saying "placed first", suitable for casual contexts.

led the field

Suggests leading others to achieve the first position.

topped the leaderboard

More specific to competitive contexts where rankings are displayed on a leaderboard.

was the winner

Focuses on the outcome of winning, rather than the act of being positioned first.

achieved the highest rank

Emphasizes the attainment of the highest level in a hierarchy.

secured the top spot

Indicates the act of firmly gaining and holding the first position.

was prioritized above all

Shifts the meaning to being given the most importance or attention.

FAQs

How can I use "placed first" in a sentence?

You can use "placed first" to indicate that someone or something achieved the top position, as in "The team "placed first" in the competition".

What are some alternatives to "placed first"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "ranked highest", "took first place", or "came in first".

Is it correct to say "was placed first"?

While grammatically correct, "was placed first" can sound passive. "Placed first" is generally more concise and direct.

What does it mean when something "placed first"?

It means that the item or person achieved the top rank or position in a competition, ranking, or list. It signifies being the best or most important in a particular context.