she was rejected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was rejected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where a person was not accepted or turned down, often in contexts like job applications, relationships, or proposals. Example: "After the interview, she was rejected for the position, leaving her feeling disappointed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Move forward with rejection Beyonce did not stop in 1993 when she was rejected on "Star Search".

Huffington Post

But she was rejected.

Independent

She was rejected.

The New York Times

Both times she was rejected.

The New York Times

She was rejected at a general election.

The Guardian

She was rejected; her mother was chosen.

The New York Times - Books

She was rejected time and again.

The Guardian - Film

At first she was rejected by radio stations in Lebanon.

The New York Times - Arts

She was rejected by every publisher she submitted to.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She was rejected twice again on Saturday's episode.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Then she was rejected," Catherine S. Manegold writes.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "she was rejected" with more descriptive language if you want to highlight the reason of rejection, instead of the mere fact that someone was rejected. For example, instead of "she was rejected because of her age", you can be more emphatic with "she was victim of age discrimination".

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice like "she was rejected" can make writing sound weak. When possible, use active voice to emphasize who did the rejecting; e.g., "They rejected her application."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was rejected" primarily functions as a passive construction, indicating that she is the recipient of the action. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure is grammatically correct and commonly used. The examples show it applying to job applications, university admissions, and various other scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was rejected" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction to describe the experience of being turned down or not accepted, which is reinforced by Ludwig AI. It appears most commonly in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Wiki contexts, conveying factual information in a neutral tone. When using the phrase, it's helpful to provide context regarding the reason for rejection and to consider using active voice when appropriate to strengthen your writing. Alternatives like "she faced rejection" or "she was turned down" can also be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she faced rejection

Rephrases "rejected" with "faced rejection", emphasizing the experience of encountering rejection.

she was turned down

Uses the phrasal verb "turned down" as a direct synonym for "rejected".

she was refused

Uses a more direct term for being denied.

her application was denied

Focuses on the outcome of an application being rejected.

she didn't make the cut

Uses an idiomatic expression meaning she wasn't selected.

she was unsuccessful in her bid

Highlights the failure of an attempt or effort.

her proposal was declined

Specifically refers to a proposal being rejected.

she failed to gain acceptance

Emphasizes the lack of acceptance.

she did not pass

A general way of stating she did not succeed.

she was not chosen

Emphasizes the selection process and her exclusion.

FAQs

How to use "she was rejected" in a sentence?

You can use "she was rejected" to describe a situation where someone's application, proposal, or attempt was turned down. For example: "After the interview, "she was rejected" for the position."

What can I say instead of "she was rejected"?

You can use alternatives like "she was turned down", "her application was denied", or "she didn't make the cut" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "she was rejected" or "she is rejected"?

"She was rejected" is used to describe a past event, while "she is rejected" would describe a continuous state of being rejected, which is less common. "She was rejected" implies a completed action in the past.

What's the difference between "she was rejected" and "she felt rejected"?

"She was rejected" indicates an objective action of being turned down. "She felt rejected" describes her subjective emotional experience of being turned down or excluded, whether or not an explicit rejection occurred.