they experienced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they experienced" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe events or feelings that someone has gone through in the past. Example: "During their travels, they experienced many different cultures and traditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Are they experienced actors?

The New York Times

Have they experienced adversity, personally or professionally?

The New York Times

"I can't describe the agony they experienced".

The New York Times

They cry because they experienced this personally.

The Guardian

They experienced a sense of growing dread.

The New Yorker

At airports Saturday, travelers recounted the immediate differences they experienced.

The New York Times

That was before they experienced his competitive streak.

The New York Times

They were also asked if they experienced back pain.

The New York Times - Health

Who can forget the first time they experienced this sensation?

The New York Times - Books

They experienced reality in a fundamentally different way.

The Guardian

Twelve percent said they experienced racist incidents every day.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the emotional weight of "experienced". For sensitive topics, choose synonyms like "encountered" if the emotional impact is not the focus.

Common error

Avoid pairing "they experienced" with highly abstract nouns that don't denote concrete events or feelings. For example, "they experienced existence" is less effective than "they experienced hardship".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they experienced" functions as a verb phrase, where "they" is the subject pronoun and "experienced" is the past tense form of the verb "experience". Ludwig AI confirms it's used to describe something that a group of people went through or felt.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they experienced" is a grammatically sound and versatile verb phrase used to describe the events, feelings, or sensations that a group of individuals underwent. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for a variety of contexts, from formal reporting to informal narration. When using "they experienced", be mindful of the specific context and ensure the subject "they" is clearly defined. While highly versatile, avoid pairing it with abstract nouns for maximum clarity. Consider synonyms like "they underwent" or "they encountered" for subtle shifts in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they underwent

This alternative directly replaces "experienced" with a synonym, keeping the sentence structure similar but emphasizing a process or change.

they encountered

This phrase replaces "experienced" with a word that suggests a meeting or confrontation with something, maintaining a high degree of interchangeability.

they went through

Similar to "they underwent", this option suggests a process or series of events that someone has passed through.

they faced

This alternative conveys the idea of dealing with a challenge or situation, often implying difficulty or adversity.

they lived through

This phrase emphasizes the survival aspect of the experience, suggesting a potentially difficult or transformative event.

they witnessed

This alternative highlights the act of observing something, shifting the focus to a visual or sensory experience.

they felt

This phrase focuses on the emotional or sensory aspect of the experience, emphasizing subjective perception.

they had

This is a more general alternative that can be used when the specific nature of the experience is less important.

they knew

Suggests familiarity or awareness gained from the experience, which differs from merely undergoing it.

they participated in

Shifts the emphasis to active involvement in an event or activity, rather than just undergoing it.

FAQs

How can I use "they experienced" in a sentence?

Use "they experienced" to describe something a group of people went through or felt. For example, "They experienced a sense of growing dread" or "They experienced many difficulties during the clinical learning process".

What can I say instead of "they experienced"?

You can use alternatives like "they underwent", "they encountered", or "they faced" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "they experienced" or "they had a experience"?

"They experienced" is generally preferred because it's more concise and grammatically correct. "They had an experience" isn't incorrect, but "they experienced" is more direct and often sounds more natural.

What's the difference between "they experienced" and "they witnessed"?

"They experienced" implies a personal involvement or undergoing of something, while "they witnessed" suggests observing something. For example, "They experienced the earthquake" means they were affected by it, while "They witnessed the earthquake" means they saw it happen.