was chased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was chased" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that happened in the past where someone or something was pursued by another person or entity. Example: "The rabbit was chased by the hungry fox through the forest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Fervor was chased off by the wind.

The New Yorker

He ran off and was chased.

Independent

Once, he was chased by a bear.

The New Yorker

He was chased but got away.

The Guardian - Books

He was chased by Nazis, and he killed one officer.

The New York Times

But she was chased by men all over the world".

Independent

My editor was arrested; I was chased a few times.

The New York Times

He was chased down in the final 25 meters.

The New York Times - Sports

Goldilocks, remember, was chased away by the bears.

The Economist

The gunman was chased and killed by soldiers.

The New York Times

Hebert was chased from the game not long after that.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was chased" to clearly indicate that the subject of your sentence was the recipient of the action, not the initiator. This is particularly useful when the pursuer is unknown or less important than the pursued.

Common error

Avoid using "was chased" when you intend to describe the act of chasing. For example, instead of "The dog was chased the cat", use "The dog chased the cat" or "The cat was chased by the dog".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was chased" functions as the passive voice of the verb "to chase". Ludwig demonstrates its use in describing actions where the subject receives the action of being pursued.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was chased" is a common and grammatically sound passive voice construction used to describe situations where someone or something is being pursued. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is used across various contexts, particularly in news, science and general narratives. When using "was chased", remember to maintain consistency in voice and be mindful of the potential for wordiness. Related phrases like "was pursued" and "was followed" offer similar meanings with slight differences in nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was pursued

Replaces "chased" with a synonym, maintaining the passive voice and similar meaning.

was followed

Offers a more neutral alternative to "chased", still indicating movement behind.

was hunted

Suggests a more deliberate and intense form of pursuit than "chased".

was given chase

Emphasizes the act of initiating a pursuit.

ran after

Shifts to an active voice, indicating someone was actively pursuing.

was stalked

Implies a stealthy and often menacing form of pursuit.

someone ran after

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the person doing the chasing.

was hounded

Suggests relentless and often annoying pursuit.

was shadowed

Indicates a discreet form of following, often without the subject's knowledge.

was trailed

Implies following someone's path or tracks.

FAQs

How can I use "was chased" in a sentence?

Use "was chased" to describe someone or something being pursued. For example, "The suspect "was chased by" the police" indicates the suspect was the one being pursued.

What's a synonym for "was chased"?

A synonym for "was chased" is "was pursued". They both indicate that someone or something was followed or hunted.

Is it grammatically correct to say "was chased after"?

While "was chased after" is understandable, it's slightly redundant. "Was chased" already implies pursuit. Consider using "was pursued" or simply "was chased" for conciseness.

What is the difference between "was chased" and "chased after"?

"Was chased" is in the passive voice, focusing on the recipient of the action, while "chased after" is active, focusing on the pursuer. For instance, "He "was chased"" emphasizes what happened to him, while "He chased after" emphasizes his action of pursuing.