was lured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was lured" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone being attracted or enticed into a situation, often with a negative connotation. Example: She was lured into the trap by the promise of treasure. Alternative expressions include "was tempted" and "was drawn in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The boy was lured from his comic book.

The New York Times - Books

He was lured to ITN as political editor in 2002.

The Guardian

I was lured into a perfume shop and fleeced.

The Guardian - Travel

The Crown claims he was lured to his death.

The Guardian

But slowly he was lured back into playing.

The Guardian - Music

Rauschenberg was lured away by the Knoedler Gallery.

The New Yorker

In 1959, Horngren was lured back to a tenured post with the University of Chicago.

Stanford University

Her sister Unity was besotted with Hitler and another, Decca, was lured by communism.

Independent

Not long afterward, he was lured back to work for Time Warner by Steve Ross.

The New York Times

Michael Sunder was lured away from his Thanksgiving dinner by a 40-inch television.

Independent

It is reported that Cecil was lured out of Hwange Park and then killed.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with prepositions like "into" (for traps or situations), "away from" (for departures) or "by" (to specify the agent or bait).

Common error

Do not use "was lured" as a simple synonym for "was invited". The word carries a connotation of bait or irresistible temptation that often implies the person might not have gone otherwise or that there is an underlying motive behind the invitation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was lured" functions as a passive voice construction consisting of the auxiliary verb "to be" in the past simple tense and the past participle of the transitive verb "lure". According to Ludwig, this structure effectively shifts the grammatical focus from the entity performing the enticement to the person or object being targeted. It is often followed by a prepositional phrase to clarify the destination or the means of the attraction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

0.9%

Social Media

0.1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was lured" is a highly versatile and correct English phrase used to describe the passive state of being enticed. Ludwig AI shows that it appears in over 60 high-quality snippets across diverse categories, ranging from criminal justice (being lured into a trap) to professional recruitment (being lured by a high salary). Its primary strength lies in its ability to depict a person's movement or decision as being influenced by an external, often irresistible, factor. Whether used in a formal report or a narrative, it remains a powerful tool for describing the mechanics of attraction and persuasion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was enticed

Focuses more on the appeal of a potential reward or pleasure

was drawn in

More metaphorical and suggests a gradual or natural attraction

was tempted

Emphasizes the internal desire or urge of the subject

was coaxed

Suggests gentle persuasion or manipulation rather than a bait

was tricked

Explicitly highlights the deceptive nature of the attraction

was seduced

Implies a stronger, often romantic or irresistible pull

was ensnared

Emphasizes the trap-like outcome of being lured

was recruited

Used in professional contexts to describe being attracted to a new role

was manipulated

Focuses on the external control exerted over the subject

was attracted

A more neutral and less active version of the phrase

FAQs

What is the meaning of "was lured" in a sentence?

The phrase "was lured" describes a person or animal being attracted or enticed to a place or into a situation, often through a promise of reward or a clever deception. For example, a professional might be "lured away" by a higher salary.

Can I use "was tempted" instead of "was lured"?

Yes, you can use "was tempted" if you want to focus on the internal desire of the person, whereas "was lured" suggests more external action or a specific bait being used.

Is "was lured" used in formal writing?

Absolutely. "was lured" is frequently used in high-quality journalism and academic writing to describe historical events, criminal cases or business recruitment, as seen in examples from The New York Times and The Guardian.

What is the difference between "was lured" and "was coaxed"?

While "was lured" implies the use of a bait or attraction, "was coaxed" suggests a more patient and gentle form of persuasion or flattery to achieve a result.