they were fulfilled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were fulfilled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that certain expectations, promises, or conditions have been met or completed. Example: "After years of hard work, their dreams were fulfilled when they finally opened their own business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

We had high expectations and they were fulfilled.

The Guardian

Given the bloodshed, his promises would almost certainly be too little, too late even if they were fulfilled, which they may not be.

The Economist

"Previous attempts to implement the road map foundered on vastly different interpretations of, No. 1, what their road map obligations meant and, No. 2, when they were fulfilled," he said.

The New York Times

To determine the demographics of attendees at three national conferences for trigeminal neuralgia sufferers, to quantify their expectations and determine if they were fulfilled.

European Journal of Pain

They were fulfilled by 40 patients.

BioMed Research International

The discriminatory power of some score items was therefore poor in some cases because they were fulfilled either by nearly all or by hardly any of the NIS.

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

For some of them, for the first time they were fulfilling what they became journalists for".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Manager Terry Collins, who said he liked the shirts, said that if players were uncomfortable with them, then they were fulfilling their purpose.

The New York Times

The Blues agreed to contribute to the plan to show they were fulfilling the charitable obligation that accompanies their tax-exempt status.

The New York Times - Health

Word on the street tells me they spent £20m on their useless web site, much of it on management consultancies to tell them they were fulfilling their brief.

TechCrunch

I knew that the secret sorority inside NXIVM didn't think they were in a "place of survival"—quite the opposite, they thought they were fulfilling their dreams.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were fulfilled", ensure that the subject is clearly defined and that the context makes it evident what expectations, promises, or conditions are being referred to.

Common error

Avoid using "they were fulfilled" without a clear antecedent. Ensure the reader knows exactly what "they" refers to. For instance, instead of saying "The promises were made, and they were fulfilled", specify: "The promises were made, and those promises were fulfilled."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were fulfilled" typically functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a previously established set of conditions, expectations, or promises have been met. As shown in the examples provided by Ludwig, the phrase commonly follows a subject referring to these conditions or expectations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were fulfilled" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to indicate that certain expectations, conditions, or promises have been successfully met. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While adaptable to various contexts, including news, media, and scientific writing, it maintains a somewhat formal tone. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to provide a clear antecedent for "they". Alternatives such as "their expectations were met" or "their hopes were realized" offer similar meanings with slight shifts in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their expectations were met

Focuses specifically on expectations being satisfied.

their hopes were realized

Emphasizes the realization of hopes or desires.

their promises were kept

Highlights the adherence to promises or commitments.

their ambitions were achieved

Specifically refers to the accomplishment of ambitions.

their goals were attained

Focuses on the attainment of specific goals.

their needs were satisfied

Indicates that needs or requirements were adequately addressed.

their desires were gratified

Emphasizes the satisfaction of desires.

their requirements were satisfied

Highlights the fulfillment of specific requirements or criteria.

the conditions were satisfied

Focuses on meeting specific conditions or prerequisites.

their obligations were discharged

Indicates that obligations or duties were successfully completed.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were fulfilled" to indicate that certain expectations, promises, or conditions have been met. For example: "After years of hard work, their dreams were fulfilled."

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

You can use alternatives like "their expectations were met", "their hopes were realized", or "their promises were kept" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "they were fulfilled" in formal writing?

Yes, "they were fulfilled" is appropriate for formal writing, as it's grammatically correct and widely used in various professional and academic contexts.

What is the difference between "they were fulfilled" and "they were completed"?

"They were fulfilled" implies that expectations or promises were satisfied, while "they were completed" simply means that something was finished. Using "they were completed" focuses on the act of finishing, not necessarily on satisfying an expectation.