sought asylum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sought asylum" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who has applied for protection in another country due to fear of persecution in their home country. Example: "After fleeing their war-torn homeland, they sought asylum in a neighboring country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Then he caught a flight to London and sought asylum.

The New York Times

Ms Hirsi Ali instead sought asylum in the Netherlands.

The Economist

We sought asylum across the border in India.

The Guardian

More than 100,000 people sought asylum last year.

The New York Times

There he sought asylum, with the other boat people of Quetta.

The New Yorker

Others sought asylum by sea from Turkey via small Greek islands.

Independent

She sought asylum, and now lives in San Francisco with their two children.

The New York Times

She sought asylum in the Netherlands, a country that she found shockingly nice.

The Economist

Later, fleeing a Jordanian death sentence, Abu Qatada sought asylum in London in 1993.

The Economist

Mr. Snowden has sought asylum from more than two dozen nations.

The New York Times

The number of people who sought asylum in industrialised countries fell last year.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider adding details about where asylum was sought to provide a fuller picture of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "sought asylum" when the individual simply wanted to immigrate for economic reasons; asylum is specifically for those fleeing persecution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sought asylum" functions as a verb phrase, specifically indicating the action of seeking protection in another country due to fear of persecution or danger in one's home country. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sought asylum" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that accurately describes the act of seeking protection in another country due to fear of persecution. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English. The phrase is common in news and media, encyclopedias and science, and has several alternatives, such as "requested asylum" and "sought refuge". When using the phrase, it is essential to ensure that it accurately reflects the individual's circumstances and motivations for seeking protection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requested asylum

Focuses on the act of making a formal request for asylum.

applied for asylum

Highlights the application process involved in seeking asylum.

sought refuge

Emphasizes the search for a safe place, broadening the scope beyond formal asylum.

sought sanctuary

Suggests a more spiritual or protected form of refuge.

fled to seek asylum

Adds the element of fleeing or escaping a dangerous situation.

took refuge

Highlights the action of finding shelter or safety.

looked for asylum

Focuses on the process of actively searching for asylum options.

desired asylum

Highlights the individual's desire or wish to obtain asylum.

sought protection

Broadens the concept to include any form of protection, not specifically asylum.

petitioned for asylum

Emphasizes a formal and potentially legal appeal for asylum.

FAQs

What does "sought asylum" mean?

The phrase "sought asylum" means someone has applied for protection in another country because they fear persecution in their home country.

Which is correct, "sought asylum" or "applied for asylum"?

Both "sought asylum" and "applied for asylum" are correct and can be used interchangeably. "Applied for asylum" emphasizes the formal application process.

What can I say instead of "sought asylum"?

You can use alternatives like "sought refuge" or "requested asylum", depending on the specific context.

How do I use "sought asylum" in a sentence?

Example: "After fleeing the war-torn country, he "sought asylum" in a neighboring nation."