time was consumed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "time was consumed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where time has been spent or taken up by an activity or event. Example: "During the meeting, a significant amount of time was consumed discussing the budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Each year, more and more of his time was consumed by dance.

The New York Times

Soon his free time was consumed with filing complaints about elephant abuse.

The New York Times - Magazine

As Enron's efforts to reorganize failed, quickly dissolving into an extensive liquidation, Judge Gonzalez's time was consumed in grappling with a mounting investigation into accounting issues.

The New York Times

He reckoned he and his staff spent only 40% of their time organising services for drug users - the rest of their time was consumed by producing paper plans and paper reports for Whitehall.

The Guardian

This weekly farce was doubly frustrating if I wanted to raise a serious issue but could not because all the allotted time was consumed by name-calling or sycophantic questions planted by the whips.

The Guardian

Transient adsorption capability and time consumption to equilibrium were nearly independent of porosity, whereas increasing pore size led to a moderating adsorption rate and more time was consumed to approach the saturation adsorption.

Journal of Computational Physics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Most of their time is consumed looking for new clients, which is of no benefit to consumers.

The New York Times

Much of his free time is consumed by media interviews.

The Guardian

As a result, extra time is consumed significantly.

Journal of Computational Physics

Much of this time is consumed by the excessively convoluted and paperwork-intensive regulatory process.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But the greatest demands on his time is consumed with Galatasaray.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "time was consumed" when you want to emphasize that a particular activity or process required a significant amount of time, often implying that it might have been more than expected or desired.

Common error

While grammatically correct, excessive use of the passive voice, as in "time was consumed", can make your writing sound weak. Consider rephrasing in the active voice (e.g., "the meeting consumed a lot of time") for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "time was consumed" functions as a passive construction indicating that a period of time was used or taken up by a specific activity or event. It describes how time resources were utilized, often implying a significant amount, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "time was consumed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression indicating that time has been used or taken up by an activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from diverse sources. While generally appropriate for neutral contexts, it is most frequently found in news, scientific, and formal business writing. When aiming for a more direct style, consider using active voice alternatives. Overall, understanding the nuances of "time was consumed" can help you refine your writing and convey your message with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

time was taken up

Replaces "consumed" with "taken up", a more literal and less formal alternative.

time was spent

Substitutes "consumed" with "spent", focusing on the action of using time.

time was devoted

Indicates that time was specifically allocated or dedicated to something.

time was used

A more general substitute, indicating that time was simply utilized.

time was allocated

Highlights the act of assigning time for a particular purpose.

time was absorbed

Suggests that time was gradually taken up by something, often passively.

activity consumed time

Reverses the sentence structure to emphasize the activity as the subject.

time disappeared into

A more figurative expression, implying that time was lost or seemingly vanished.

time evaporated in

A metaphorical alternative, suggesting time quickly diminished during an activity.

the process took time

Focuses on the process and its duration rather than the time being used.

FAQs

How can I use "time was consumed" in a sentence?

You can use "time was consumed" to indicate that a certain amount of time was used up by an activity. For example, "A significant amount of time was consumed by the lengthy discussion".

What are some alternatives to "time was consumed"?

Alternatives include /s/time+was+spent, /s/time+was+used, or /s/time+was+taken+up. The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "time was consumed"?

While "time was consumed" is grammatically correct, using the active voice (e.g., "the task consumed time") can make your writing more direct and engaging. Choose the voice that best suits your intended emphasis.

What is the difference between "time was consumed" and "time was wasted"?

"Time was consumed" simply indicates that time was used, whereas "time was wasted" implies that the time was used ineffectively or for an unproductive purpose. The alternative /s/time+was+wasted carries a negative connotation.