was closed down

USAGE SUMMARY

"was closed down" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an action that happened in the past, usually when referring to a business, organization, or other such entity. For example: "The store was closed down at the end of last year due to financial difficulties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Everything was closed down".

The New York Times

He was closed down.

The Guardian

It was closed down.

The Guardian

KFM was closed down by the authorities.

The Economist

The factory was closed down on Tuesday.

The New York Times

Two years later, it was closed down.

The New York Times

The production was closed down.

The Guardian - Film

But it was closed down in 1984.

The Guardian - Arts

The show was closed down after several months.

The New York Times

The catch-all second track was closed down.

The Economist

"If the plant was closed down, it would devastate Buchanan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was closed down" when referring to the cessation of operations or activities of an organization, business, or system. It clearly indicates a past action resulting in a shutdown.

Common error

Avoid using "was closed down" when you mean "closed" as an adjective. For example, use "The store is closed" instead of "The store was closed down" if you're describing the current state of the store.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was closed down" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject received the action of being closed. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Examples from Ludwig show its use in various contexts, referring to businesses, organizations, and systems.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was closed down" is a grammatically correct and very common passive verb phrase used to indicate that an entity has ceased operations or activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Predominantly found in "News & Media", "Science", and "Wiki" contexts, it serves to report or describe past events related to the cessation of businesses, organizations, or systems. Related phrases include "was shut down", "was terminated", and others, offering subtle differences in meaning. When writing, use "was closed down" to describe the ending of operations, but avoid using it as an adjective. Common errors include misunderstanding the passive voice and misusing it when "closed" would suffice. In conclusion, "was closed down" is a versatile phrase suitable for various contexts, especially when reporting past closures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was shut down

Similar meaning, emphasizes a forceful or abrupt closing.

was terminated

More formal, suggests a planned or official end.

was discontinued

Implies a cessation of production or operation.

was ceased

Formal and somewhat archaic, indicating a complete stop.

was suspended

Indicates a temporary cessation, with the possibility of reopening.

was decommissioned

Specifically refers to the removal of something from service, often a facility or piece of equipment.

was brought to an end

More descriptive and less direct.

was put out of business

Focuses on the commercial aspect of closing down.

was forced to close

Emphasizes the involuntary nature of the closure.

ceased operations

Formal way to describe a complete business stop.

FAQs

How can I use "was closed down" in a sentence?

You can use "was closed down" to describe a past event where an entity ceased operations, such as "The factory "was closed down" due to safety violations".

What's the difference between "was closed down" and "was shut down"?

While similar, "was shut down" often implies a more abrupt or forceful closing, whereas "was closed down" can refer to a more gradual or planned cessation.

What are some alternatives to "was closed down"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "was terminated", "was discontinued", or "ceased operations".

Is it grammatically correct to use "was closed down"?

Yes, "was closed down" is grammatically correct as a passive construction indicating that something was caused to be closed.