was met with

USAGE SUMMARY

"was met with" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about receiving a reaction from someone or something. For example: His criticism of the new policy was met with criticism from his colleagues.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I was met with giggles.

The New York Times

It was met with silence.

Independent

III was met with fury.

The New Yorker

Skinner's erudition was met with surprise.

Independent

Our protest was met with a shrug.

The New York Times

The request was met with silence.

The New York Times

Her speech was met with boos.

Independent

I was met with perplexity and hostility.

Independent

He was met with blank looks.

The New Yorker

But I was met with silence.

The New Yorker

Dissent was met with increasing repressive force.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was met with" to clearly indicate a response or reaction to a specific action, statement, or event. This structure provides clarity on how something was received.

Common error

Avoid using "was met with" when the active voice would be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The proposal was met with resistance", consider "The team resisted the proposal".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was met with" functions as a passive voice construction used to describe how a particular action, statement, or event was received. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in conveying various reactions. It is a key phrase to indicate response.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

21%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was met with" is a versatile phrase used to describe the reception or response to a particular action, statement, or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used in written English. Its frequency across diverse sources, particularly in news and media, underscores its utility in conveying varied reactions, from applause to skepticism. When writing, consider the active voice as an alternative for a more direct and impactful statement. Overall, understanding the nuances of "was met with" allows for clear and effective communication. The phrase has a neutral register, therefore can be used in formal, professional and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drew

A more concise way of saying that a particular response was attracted or obtained.

sparked

Indicates a sudden and often energetic reaction.

triggered

Implies a rapid or immediate reaction, sometimes unexpected.

provoked

Highlights the causal link between an action and a response, often suggesting a strong or intense reaction.

elicited

Focuses on the action of drawing out a response, rather than the nature of the response itself.

generated

Highlights the creation or production of a particular response.

led to

Similar to "resulted in", but can also suggest a series of events leading to a final outcome.

resulted in

Emphasizes the outcome or consequence of an action.

brought about

Focuses on the causing or generating of something as a consequence.

occasioned

Suggests that something was the direct cause or reason for something else.

FAQs

How can I use "was met with" in a sentence?

Use "was met with" to describe how something was received. For instance, "The announcement "was met with applause"" or "The idea "was met with skepticism"".

What are some alternatives to "was met with"?

You can use alternatives such as "elicited", "provoked", or "triggered" depending on the context and the type of reaction you want to convey.

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

While "was met with" is a passive construction and grammatically correct, consider whether the active voice might be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The suggestion was met with disagreement", you could say "People disagreed with the suggestion".

What does "was met with" imply about the reaction?

"Was met with" implies that there was a response to a specific action or statement. The nature of the reaction can vary widely, ranging from positive responses like enthusiasm or support, to negative responses like criticism or rejection. The specific adjective used alongside "was met with" further clarifies the nature of the reaction.