was not met

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not met" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that expectations were not fulfilled or achieved. For example: "The deadline for the project was not met, so it was delayed by another week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their decision was not met with enthusiasm.

The New York Times - Style

That standard was not met here.

The New York Times

Clearly, that standard was not met".

The Guardian

The move was not met with cheer in the trade.

Independent

My decision was not met with universal approval.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The film was not met with total acclaim.

The New York Times - Arts

The demand was not met.

BBC

Although the recent appointment was not met with universal acclaim.

BBC

The bad stickability of the dry prepreg for curved part was not met in thennofonning.

Composite Technologies for 2020 Proceedings of the Fourth Asian–Australasian Conference on Composite Materials (ACCM 4)

This indicates that the pigs' Ca need was not met at 4 g/kg feed.

Livestock Science

Participants were excluded if any of the above criteria was not met.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not met", ensure the subject clearly identifies what expectation or requirement remained unfulfilled. For example, "The project deadline was not met due to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

Avoid using "was not met" without clearly specifying what expectation or standard failed to be achieved. A sentence like "The target was not met" lacks specific details, making it less impactful. Instead, provide context: "The sales target for Q3 was not met due to market fluctuations."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not met" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a specific requirement, expectation, or standard has not been fulfilled. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was not met" serves as a grammatically correct and versatile way to express that something has not been achieved or fulfilled. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical soundness and widespread usage. As shown by the analyzed data, it is most frequently encountered in scientific and news contexts, although it's also perfectly acceptable in formal and business communications. When writing, clarity is paramount: ensure you clearly state what expectation or requirement "was not met". Alternatives like "was not achieved" or "failed to meet" can be used depending on the context. The FAQ anticipates common user questions, providing additional guidance on usage and suggesting appropriate alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to meet

Emphasizes the act of not fulfilling a requirement or standard.

was not achieved

Focuses on the failure to reach a specific goal or outcome.

was not fulfilled

Emphasizes that a promise, condition, or expectation remained incomplete.

was not satisfied

Highlights that a need, requirement, or desire remained unfulfilled.

was not realized

Suggests that a plan, hope, or ambition failed to materialize.

was not attained

Indicates the failure to reach a certain level, status, or objective.

was not complied with

Emphasizes the lack of adherence to rules, regulations, or demands.

fell short of

Highlights that the result was less than expected or desired.

did not reach

Focuses on the failure to arrive at a destination or a specific point.

was not honored

Highlights that a commitment or agreement was not respected or fulfilled.

FAQs

How can I use "was not met" in a sentence?

You can use "was not met" to indicate that a requirement, expectation, or target was not achieved. For example, "The project's budget "was not met", resulting in additional funding requests."

What are some alternatives to "was not met"?

Some alternatives include "was not achieved", "was not fulfilled", or "failed to meet". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to use "was not met" or "failed to meet"?

"Was not met" is in passive form, while "failed to meet" is in active form. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the unmet requirement (passive) or the entity that failed to meet it (active).

What's the difference between "was not met" and "was not satisfied"?

"Was not met" generally refers to a specific target or expectation, while "was not satisfied" implies that a need, requirement, or desire remained unfulfilled. For example, "The customer's demands "were not satisfied", even though the deadline "was not met" either."