they were divested

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were divested" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone or an entity has been stripped of ownership, rights, or assets, often in a financial or legal sense. Example: "After the merger, they were divested of their subsidiary companies to streamline operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

RALPH LAUREN It is an interesting question how far men would retain their relative rank if they were divested of their clothes.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He said that the change of strategy executed after Apotheker's departure – retaining the PC business – meant the company "went from a strategy where they were divesting assets, to putting hardware front and centre.

The Guardian - Tech

Last September the members of the Rockefeller family – the first family of fossil fuels – announced that they were divesting their philanthropies from coal, oil, and gas for reasons "both moral and economic".

The Guardian

Thea Ormerod, the president of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, told the Guardian it was a significant step for Catholic organisations to publicly announce they were divesting from fossil fuels.

The Guardian

They're divested of all of their meaning.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Now they're divested those assets and they're in the right place at the right time.

The New York Times

An Exxon spokesman told CNBC: "It's not surprising that they're divesting from the company since they're already funding a conspiracy against us".

The Guardian

"I think when people write the history of this whole period, they'll do worse than to pick the 21 of September as the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel industry, with 400,000 people in the streets of New York and the Rockefellers announcing they're divesting.

The Guardian

This article also mischaracterized RISD as divesting from all fossil fuel investments; they are divesting more specifically from direct investments in fossil-fuel extraction.

Huffington Post

New Jersey bill 2940 prohibits funds to state colleges and universities, persons or entities associated with a state institution of higher education that publically expresses as policy that they are divesting, condemning and/or opposing Israeli business and public officials for their actions against Palestinians.

Huffington Post

The system was dismantled in 1983, when the 22 operating companies were divested by AT&T under court order.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "they were divested" to clearly indicate that assets, rights, or responsibilities have been formally removed or sold off. Ensure the context clearly identifies who or what was divested and from whom or what.

Common error

Avoid using "they were divested" when the subject actively chose to give something up. Divestment typically implies an external force or decision leading to the removal, not a voluntary action. Consider using "they sold off" or "they relinquished" if the action was voluntary.

Linguistic Context

They were divested functions as a passive voice construction indicating that the subject (they) underwent the action of being stripped of something. This construction emphasizes the receiver of the action rather than the actor. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were divested" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction, confirmed by Ludwig AI, to express that a subject has been formally stripped of assets, rights, or responsibilities. Predominantly found in news, encyclopedias and scientific contexts, its purpose is to convey formal removal or transfer. When using this phrase, clarity and context are key to ensure the meaning is properly understood, and awareness of common usage errors is important to avoid misapplication. Alternatives such as "they were stripped of" and "they were relieved of" can offer nuances depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were stripped of

Focuses on the act of forcibly removing something, often rights or possessions.

they were deprived of

Emphasizes the loss or denial of something important.

they were relieved of

Suggests a removal of burden or responsibility.

they were dispossessed of

Highlights the loss of property or land.

they were bereft of

Indicates a state of being without something essential.

they were parted from

Implies a separation or detachment from something valued.

they were detached from

Focuses on the act of disconnecting or separating.

they were separated from

Suggests a formal or physical division from something.

they were alienated from

Highlights a feeling of estrangement or disconnection.

they were ceded

Focuses on the act of formally giving up rights or territory.

FAQs

What does "they were divested" mean?

The phrase "they were divested" means that someone or something had assets, rights, or possessions taken away from them or sold off. It often implies a formal or legal process.

How can I use "they were divested" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the removal of assets, such as "After the merger, "they were divested" of their subsidiary companies" or the loss of authority, like "As he was incapacitated, "they were divested" of his powers".

What can I say instead of "they were divested"?

You can use alternatives like "they were stripped of", "they were relieved of", or "they were dispossessed of" depending on the specific context.

Is "they were divested of" grammatically correct?

Yes, "they were divested of" is grammatically correct. The preposition "of" is commonly used to indicate what was taken away or removed from the subject.