was amenable to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was amenable to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was open to or willing to accept a suggestion, idea, or request. Example: "The committee was amenable to the proposed changes in the policy after much discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

(A Google spokesman countered that the company was amenable to reusing work from artists' portfolios).

The New York Times

Impressed by Ms. Simon's work, Mr. Simpson was amenable to the idea of having dance performances.

The New York Times - Arts

Mdala's aristocratic background left a streak of autocracy, but he was amenable to criticism.

Independent

Winfield said he was amenable to shifting to the nickel, or anywhere else.

The New York Times - Sports

On August 13th he said he was amenable to a second term.

The Economist

So when Mr. Gates called him about a month and a half ago, Mr. Parsons was amenable to compromise.

The New York Times

It turned out that the Sea of Japan, never hard to cross, was amenable to rubber rafts.

The New York Times

Prosecutors then showed an e-mail that Mr. Kumar received in May 2006 suggesting ATI was amenable to the acquisition.

The New York Times

At 41, she agreed to work on the books and overtime and was amenable to occasional weekend trips.

The New York Times

Mr. Daschle said that while the Senate proposal did not include such a provision, he was amenable to one if that would make a difference to the administration.

The New York Times

According to one person, Mr. Ayling, who had worked at the airline for 15 years, was surprised, but was amenable to leaving.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was amenable to", ensure that the subject is capable of agreement or influence. For example, "The committee was amenable to the proposal" is correct, but "The weather was amenable to the picnic" is less appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "was amenable to" with inanimate subjects or abstract concepts that cannot logically agree or be persuaded. For example, instead of saying "The problem was amenable to a solution", consider "The problem was solvable" or "A solution to the problem was possible".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was amenable to" functions as a predicate adjective describing the subject's disposition or attitude. It indicates a state of being receptive or willing to agree to something. Ludwig examples show its usage in contexts where individuals or entities are open to suggestions or changes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was amenable to" is a versatile expression used to indicate a state of willingness or receptiveness. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. As shown by Ludwig's examples, it's commonly found in news, science, and business domains, suggesting a neutral to professional register. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject is capable of agreement and that the context aligns with the connotation of willingness rather than susceptibility. Alternatives like "was receptive to" or "was open to" can be used to convey similar meanings with slight variations in formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was receptive to

Indicates a willingness to consider new ideas or suggestions; slightly more formal.

was open to

Suggests a willingness to consider something without necessarily implying agreement; more neutral in tone.

was agreeable to

Emphasizes a pleasant or cooperative attitude towards something.

was willing to

Highlights the voluntary aspect of accepting or doing something.

was inclined to

Suggests a predisposition or tendency towards a particular action or belief.

was compliant with

Emphasizes adherence to rules or requests; more formal and often used in regulatory contexts.

was acquiescent to

Implies reluctant acceptance or agreement.

was favorably disposed to

Indicates a positive attitude or inclination towards something; more formal.

showed a willingness to

Describes the demonstration of being prepared to do something.

expressed readiness to

Highlights the explicit communication of being prepared for an action or decision.

FAQs

How can I use "was amenable to" in a sentence?

You can use "was amenable to" to indicate that someone or a group was willing to agree with or accept something. For example: "The team "was amenable to" the changes proposed by the manager".

What can I say instead of "was amenable to"?

You can use alternatives like "was receptive to", "was open to", or "was agreeable to" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was amenable for" instead of "was amenable to"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "amenable" in this context is "to". "Was amenable for" is grammatically incorrect. You should always use ""was amenable to"".

What's the difference between "was amenable to" and "was susceptible to"?

"Was amenable to" implies a willingness to agree or be influenced, while "was susceptible to" indicates a vulnerability to being affected by something, often negatively. They are not interchangeable.