was chilled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was chilled" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that has been cooled down, often referring to food or drinks. An example is: "The wine was chilled before serving." Alternative expressions include "was cooled" and "was refrigerated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I was chilled".

The New York Times

"I was chilled out.

The Guardian - Sport

The professor was chilled.

The New York Times - Health

He was chilled," said an eye-witness.

Independent

I was chilled by my power.

The New York Times - Magazine

Richard was chilled and Zen and never raised his voice.

The Guardian - Film

The air was chilled, and stank like rotten roots and sewage.

The New Yorker

The flesh was chilled by it, for some reason, and there could be rot.

The New Yorker

He said that as an individual he was chilled by the cruelty.

The New York Times

"I was chilled by the way he was mixing religion and politics," Mr Lear said.

Independent

I've stood up for journalists whose free speech was chilled by libel laws.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In narrative writing, utilize the phrase to evoke a sudden feeling of dread or unease, especially in the construction "was chilled to the bone".

Common error

Avoid using "was chilled" when you mean someone has a relaxed personality in formal writing. While "he was chill" or "chilled out" is common in slang, in professional contexts, use words like "composed" or "collected".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was chilled" primarily functions as a passive verb construction where "was" is the auxiliary verb and "chilled" is the past participle. In many contexts, such as those found in Ludwig, it acts as a copular verb followed by an adjectival participle, describing the state of an object (thermal) or a person (emotional).

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

30%

Wiki & How-to Guides

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Literature

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was chilled" is a versatile and grammatically correct expression found extensively in both scientific laboratory reports and high-quality journalism. According to Ludwig AI data, its usage is split between literal thermal descriptions (e.g., cooling a sample or a dish) and figurative emotional or social descriptions (e.g., being struck by fear or the suppression of speech). It is a very common phrase with a high reliability score, particularly in the Science and News & Media categories. Writers should ensure they distinguish between the literal physical process and the informal slang for relaxation, though the latter rarely appears as "was chilled" in formal corpora. Overall, it is a robust choice for describing the transition to a cold state or the onset of fear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was cooled

More general term for a reduction in temperature without implying a specific cold state

was refrigerated

Specific to a mechanical cooling process, usually for food or biological samples

was unnerved

Captures the figurative meaning of being frightened or discouraged

was suppressed

Relates to the legal or social sense where speech or activity is discouraged

was iced

Informal or culinary term for cooling something using ice specifically

was frozen

Indicates a more extreme reduction in temperature to the point of solidification

was terrified

A stronger emotional alternative for the figurative sense of fear

was dampened

Often used for emotions or enthusiasm being reduced, similar to the figurative sense

was relaxed

Alternative for the informal slang meaning of being calm

was refreshed

Positive connotation for cooling down a beverage or a person

FAQs

What can I say instead of "was chilled" when talking about food?

You can use terms like "was refrigerated" for long-term storage or "was cooled" for a general drop in temperature.

Is "was chilled" correct in scientific protocols?

Yes, it is standard. Ludwig AI shows it is frequently used in journals like PlosOne in sentences such as "the culture "was chilled on ice"".

What is the difference between "was chilled" and "was chilly"?

"Was chilled" is a passive action or a state resulting from an action, whereas "was chilly" is an adjective describing the environment or weather.

Can "was chilled" describe a person's fear?

Yes, it is a common figurative use. You might say they "were chilled by the news" to indicate a feeling of sudden fear or dread.