was gone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was gone' is grammatically correct and is commonly used in written English.
Example: Mary had been out of town for several days and by the time she returned, her chance to secure the job was gone.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Florencio was gone.

The New York Times

It was gone noon.

The Economist

But Yi was gone.

The New York Times

My daughter was gone.

The New York Times

The girl was gone.

The New Yorker

The bird was gone.

The New Yorker

Third base was gone.

The New York Times - Sports

The fear was gone.

The New York Times

But Scott was gone.

The New York Times - Sports

It was gone.

The New York Times

The gun was gone.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was gone" to indicate a state of absence or completion, particularly when describing something that existed previously but no longer does. For example, "The opportunity was gone before he could react."

Common error

Avoid using "was gone" when "has gone" is more appropriate. "Was gone" describes a state in the past, whereas "has gone" indicates a recent departure with present relevance. For example, use "He has gone to the store" instead of "He was gone to the store."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was gone" functions as a past tense passive construction, indicating that a subject was absent or had ceased to exist at a certain point in the past. It describes a completed state of being away or missing, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was gone" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to indicate a past state of absence or completion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. Alternatives like "had disappeared" or "was missing" can be used depending on the nuance you wish to convey. Remember to use "was gone" to describe something in the past; "has gone" is more appropriate for recent departures. The phrase functions neutrally and effectively communicates the state of being absent or no longer existing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had disappeared

Emphasizes the act of vanishing or ceasing to be visible.

had vanished

Similar to 'disappeared' but can imply a more sudden or mysterious disappearance.

was missing

Focuses on the state of being absent or not found.

had left

Highlights the action of departing from a place or situation.

no longer existed

States that something has ceased to be.

was no more

A more emphatic way of saying something no longer exists.

had been removed

Highlights the action of taking something away.

was absent

Focuses on the state of not being present.

had faded

Implies a gradual disappearance or decline.

was depleted

Focuses on the reduction of something until it is completely used up.

FAQs

What does "was gone" mean?

The phrase "was gone" indicates that something or someone had disappeared or ceased to exist at a specific point in the past. It suggests a state of absence or completion. For example, "By the time I arrived, the cake "was gone"."

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

You can use "was gone" to describe a past state of absence or completion. For example, "The evidence "had vanished" and the suspect "was missing"."

What's the difference between "was gone" and "is gone"?

"Was gone" refers to a past state of absence, whereas "is gone" refers to a current state. For example, "The money "was gone" by yesterday" versus "The money "is missing" right now."

What can I say instead of "was gone"?

You can use alternatives such as "had disappeared", "was missing", or "had left" depending on the context.