was held

USAGE SUMMARY

"was held" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to refer to an event or meeting that occurred in the past. For example, "The conference was held last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Service was held yesterday.

The New York Times

Funeral was held Sunday.

The New York Times

Ulises was held separately.

The New Yorker

Physicality was held constant.

Personality and Individual Differences

A private cremation was held.

The New York Times

No victory party was held.

The New York Times

The funeral was held privately.

The New York Times

The hearing was held in….

The New Yorker

A nationwide contest was held.

The New York Times

Each was held in bail.

The New York Times

Graveside funeral was held Sunday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events, use "was held" to clearly indicate that the event has already occurred. It's a straightforward way to communicate the event's completion.

Common error

Avoid using "was held" when referring to an event happening now. Use "is being held" or "is held" instead to maintain correct tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was held" functions as the passive voice past tense of the verb "hold". It indicates that an event, meeting, or object experienced the action of being held. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was held" is a very common and grammatically sound way to describe past events, meetings, or states. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates that something occurred previously. Predominantly found in "News & Media", its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide range of contexts. When using "was held", remember to use it in past contexts, and consider alternatives like "took place" or "was conducted" for nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took place

Replaces "was held" with a more direct indication of an event's occurrence.

occurred

Similar to "took place", but can also refer to a more natural or unplanned event.

was conducted

Emphasizes the execution or management of an event or process.

was maintained

Highlights the act of preserving a certain state or condition.

was kept

Implies preserving something in a specific condition.

was celebrated

Indicates a festive event or occasion.

was organized

Highlights the planning and preparation behind an event.

was staged

Often used for planned events like performances or demonstrations.

was convened

Suggests a formal meeting or assembly.

was in effect

Indicates that a rule or law was active and operational.

FAQs

How to use "was held" in a sentence?

Use "was held" to describe an event that took place in the past, such as "The meeting "was held" last week" or "The ceremony "was held" in the town square".

What can I say instead of "was held"?

You can use alternatives like "took place", "occurred", or "was conducted" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was held" or "is held"?

"Was held" refers to a past event, while "is held" refers to a present or recurring event. For example, "The conference "was held" in June" versus "The conference "is held" annually".

What's the difference between "was held" and "has been held"?

"Was held" indicates a completed action at a specific point in the past, while "has been held" indicates an action completed at some point before now, with possible relevance to the present. For example, "The election "was held" last year" versus "The election "has been held" without incident".