was figured out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was figured out" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a solution or understanding was reached in the past. Example: "After several hours of discussion, the problem was figured out by the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Once this was figured out, we decided to stick to testing with the speakers.

Cornell University

Timing for the step clock was figured out from the number of mouse inputs that were received in a second.

Cornell University

"They weren't going to run the story until after all this was figured out," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

But everything else was figured out on a piece of graph paper.

The New York Times - Magazine

Once this was figured out, it's not difficult to see how you can turn them into flatscreen displays.

The Guardian

But "what nobody knew" was that the "heart and lungs' role in blood flow" was figured out by Ibn al-Nafis, the 13th-century physician.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Key was figuring out what it was.

The New York Times

The next challenge was figuring out what recordings were eligible.

The New York Times - Arts

The problem was figuring out what, exactly, the treasures were.

The New York Times

The odd part was figuring out a fair distribution.

The New York Times

Since Thet fit in nicely, it was an easy decision to slap a Dreamcast inside.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was figured out" when you want to emphasize that a solution or understanding was achieved after some effort or process. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While acceptable in many contexts, avoid overusing "was figured out" in highly formal writing. Opt for more precise alternatives like "was determined" or "was ascertained" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was figured out" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a problem or situation underwent a process of understanding or resolution. As shown by Ludwig, it is used to express that something became clear or was successfully solved.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was figured out" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to express that something has been solved or understood. Ludwig indicates it's most commonly found in science, news & media, and academia. While acceptable in most contexts, in highly formal settings, you might want to use alternatives like "was determined" or "was ascertained". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is a passive construction used to convey the resolution of a problem or complex situation. While the register is generally neutral, it’s worth considering the audience when selecting "was figured out" or more formal options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was resolved

Focuses on the solution being achieved, implying a more formal approach to solving a problem.

was discovered

Highlights the finding or uncovering of something previously unknown.

was understood

Emphasizes the comprehension aspect of the situation.

was determined

Suggests a careful process of establishing or deciding something.

was ascertained

Implies a more formal and thorough investigation to find something out.

was worked out

Indicates effort and problem-solving were involved in finding the solution.

was found

A simpler way of saying something was discovered.

was decoded

Suggests that something complex or encrypted was successfully interpreted.

was unraveled

Implies that a complex problem or mystery was solved by carefully examining its parts.

was sussed out

An informal way of saying something was figured out.

FAQs

What does "was figured out" mean?

The phrase "was figured out" means that a solution to a problem or an understanding of something has been reached. It implies a process of reasoning or investigation.

What can I say instead of "was figured out"?

You can use alternatives like "was resolved", "was determined", or "was understood" depending on the context.

Is "was figured out" formal or informal?

"Was figured out" is generally considered acceptable in both formal and informal contexts, but in highly formal writing, alternatives like "was ascertained" might be preferred.

How to use "was figured out" in a sentence?

You can use "was figured out" in a sentence like this: "After several hours of discussion, the problem "was figured out" by the team."