was highly anticipated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was highly anticipated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event, product, or outcome that many people were looking forward to or expecting with excitement. Example: "The release of the new smartphone was highly anticipated by tech enthusiasts around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This year's matchup was highly anticipated.

The New York Times - Sports

Belichick's appearance here was highly anticipated because he rarely attends the annual coaches breakfast with reporters.

The New York Times - Sports

The encounter was highly anticipated at the summit — the first to include Cuba.

The Guardian

It was highly anticipated - the Actors Workshop was probably the greatest American theatre at the time.

The Guardian

Pharrell Williams's performance was highly anticipated; in part with glee, while some hardened festival-goers questioned his credentials.

Independent

His debut was highly anticipated upon its release in March, and earned positive reviews in both the Guardian and the Observer.

The Guardian - Music

His annual virtual reality contest was highly anticipated, and work on virtual reality by some of his students won them the chance to experience weightlessness on an aircraft.

The New York Times

His release from prison was highly anticipated in Japan, and there was much speculation that he would play a major leadership role in the sect.

The New York Times

Mr. Rushdie's appearance at this year's Jaipur Literature Festival was highly anticipated, even though he had come once before, in part because this time his appearance was publicized.

The New York Times

The birth was highly anticipated in the Hindi film industry known as Bollywood because Ms. Rai and Mr. Bachchan are two of its biggest stars.

The New York Times

Lin's first game this season against the Knicks was highly anticipated, but he remained patient and focused, unlike his former team.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was highly anticipated" to create a sense of importance or excitement surrounding an event, product launch, or reveal. It sets the stage for why something is significant.

Common error

While "was highly anticipated" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make writing sound weak. Consider rewriting the sentence in active voice if appropriate (e.g., "Everyone highly anticipated the event").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was highly anticipated" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject (event, release, etc.) received a great deal of expectation. Ludwig's examples showcase this usage across diverse contexts, confirming its role in emphasizing public anticipation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

31%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was highly anticipated" is a phrase used to describe an event, product, or person that many people were eagerly awaiting. Ludwig AI confirms this expression is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in News & Media and Wiki contexts. While effective, remember to consider alternative phrasings and avoid overusing passive voice. It's typically used in neutral to formal registers to convey a sense of importance and expectation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was eagerly awaited

Replaces "highly" with "eagerly", emphasizing the enthusiasm of the anticipation.

was keenly anticipated

Replaces "highly" with "keenly", denoting a sharp or eager anticipation.

was greatly expected

Substitutes "highly anticipated" with "greatly expected", focusing on the level of expectation.

was much anticipated

Uses "much" instead of "highly", offering a slightly less formal tone.

was awaited with great expectation

Emphasizes the expectation aspect of the anticipation.

generated significant buzz

Shifts the focus from anticipation to the excitement and discussion surrounding the event.

aroused considerable interest

Highlights the interest generated, rather than the anticipation itself.

drew considerable attention

Focuses on the attention the subject received, implying anticipation.

had people waiting with bated breath

Uses a more figurative expression to convey intense anticipation.

was something everyone looked forward to

Emphasizes the positive sentiment associated with the anticipated event.

FAQs

What does "was highly anticipated" mean?

The phrase "was highly anticipated" means that something was awaited with a great deal of excitement or expectation by many people. It suggests that there was significant interest and buzz surrounding the event, product, or announcement.

What can I say instead of "was highly anticipated"?

You can use alternatives like "was eagerly awaited", "was greatly expected", or "generated significant buzz" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "anticipated"?

While "was highly anticipated" (passive voice) is correct, using active voice (e.g., "Everyone highly anticipated the event") can sometimes make your writing more direct and engaging. Consider the context and desired emphasis when choosing between active and passive voice.

Can "highly anticipated" be used for negative events?

While typically used for positive or neutral events, "highly anticipated" can be used ironically for negative events, implying a morbid curiosity or expectation of disaster. However, this usage should be deliberate and contextually appropriate.