took ages

USAGE SUMMARY

"took ages" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation that has taken a long time. For example: "It took ages to find my lost keys."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It took ages to complete an over.

The Guardian - Sport

It took ages to get through.

The Guardian - Books

Wholemeal bread without butter took ages to chew.

The Guardian

"It took ages to sort everything into different types.

The Guardian

"It took ages to get to play there in the first place," he says.

The Guardian - Film

Creed noted his idea was "really simple but it still took ages to make it precise".

The Guardian - Sport

He took ages to hit that putt; I thought he was planning to hit them quickly?

The Guardian - Sport

"I took ages trying to get one for that," he said.

The Guardian - Books

That took ages to recover from, if not more than any boyfriend since.

The Guardian

It took ages to get the carpet up as we had to move all the furniture.

The Guardian - Money

Yes, they took ages to crank out the coffee, belching out scary noises and scalding steam.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took ages" when you want to convey that something took a considerable amount of time, often more than expected. It's suitable for informal and neutral contexts.

Common error

While "took ages" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid it in formal writing where more precise language is preferred. Instead, use phrases like "required a significant amount of time" or "was a lengthy process".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took ages" functions as an idiomatic expression used to indicate that something required a considerable amount of time. Ludwig examples show its usage in describing various delays, processes, and efforts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "took ages" is a common and informal way to express that something required a significant amount of time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It's most frequently used in news and media contexts and less appropriate for formal writing. Consider alternatives like "took a long time" or "lasted forever" for different nuances. Remember to use it appropriately, bearing in mind the informal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took a long time

This alternative is a more literal and straightforward way to express the same idea.

lasted forever

This phrase emphasizes the perceived endlessness of the duration.

dragged on

This suggests the time passed slowly and perhaps unpleasantly.

went on for hours

This specifies a particular unit of time to highlight the duration.

was very lengthy

This uses a more formal tone to indicate a considerable duration.

required considerable time

Highlights the significant amount of time needed for something.

extended for quite a while

This indicates a notable period of time.

consumed a lot of time

Focuses on the time being used up by an activity or event.

took an eternity

Emphasizes the extreme length of time, often hyperbolically.

was a drawn-out process

This describes an activity that unnecessarily prolonged.

FAQs

What does "took ages" mean?

"Took ages" means that something required a considerable amount of time to complete or happen. It's an informal way to emphasize that something "took a long time".

How can I use "took ages" in a sentence?

You can use "took ages" to describe any situation where something lasted longer than expected. For example, "It "took ages to get there" because of the traffic."

Is "took ages" formal or informal?

"Took ages" is considered an informal expression. In more formal settings, you might prefer alternatives like "required a significant amount of time" or "was a lengthy process".

What are some alternatives to "took ages"?

Alternatives to "took ages" include "took a long time", "lasted forever", or "dragged on" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.