was still closed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was still closed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of something that remains shut or not open at a particular time in the past. Example: "Despite the time, the store was still closed, leaving many customers disappointed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was still closed at midday today.

The New York Times

On Sunday morning, German airspace was still closed.

The New York Times

The following night, I walked into an empty hotel that was still closed from the fighting.

The New York Times

The south runway reopened Thursday afternoon, but the north runway was still closed, causing delays.

Independent

The Walmart was still closed as of Thursday morning, Thornton Mayor Heidi Williams said.

The Washington Post

I went to Russia in 1985, when it was still closed.

The New York Times

Trading was thin as American markets reopened after the holiday weekend, while Europe was still closed.

The New York Times

More than 90percentt of the gulf's daily oil output was still closed.

The New York Times

I got there at 9 30; the corridor was empty, the box office was still closed.

The New Yorker

One track was still closed for the investigation, but trains were operating at normal speeds, spokeswoman Kimberly Woods said.

The Washington Post

While the district was still closed off completely Friday, by yesterday morning things had begun to improve.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was still closed" to clearly indicate that a previously expected opening or access has not yet occurred. It's helpful for setting expectations or explaining delays.

Common error

Avoid using "was still close" instead of "was still closed". "Close" is an adjective, whereas "closed" is the past participle of the verb "to close", which is needed here to describe the state of being shut.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was still closed" functions as a stative description, indicating that something remained in a closed condition at a specific point in time. This is evident from the examples provided by Ludwig, where it describes the continued closure of roads, airports, and businesses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was still closed" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something remained in a closed state at a particular time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, to convey information about continued closures or inaccessibility. While alternatives like "remained closed" or "had not reopened" exist, the phrase's simplicity and clarity make it a frequently chosen option. When using this phrase, ensure correct tense usage and consider the context to provide a clear and informative statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained closed

Emphasizes the continuation of the closed state.

stayed closed

Highlights the persistence of the closed state over a period.

continued to be closed

More explicitly states the ongoing nature of the closure.

was yet to open

Focuses on the lack of opening, rather than the state of being closed.

was not yet open

Similar to 'was yet to open' but with a slightly different emphasis.

had not reopened

Implies a previous opening and subsequent closure, which hasn't been reversed.

hadn't opened yet

Informal version of 'had not reopened', also implying a future opening.

was not accessible

Formal version of 'was inaccessible'.

was inaccessible

Indicates the inability to access something, which can result from it being closed.

was unavailable

Suggests that something is not available for use, which could be because it's closed.

FAQs

How can I use "was still closed" in a sentence?

The phrase "was still closed" is used to describe something that remained shut or not open at a particular time in the past. For instance, "The road "was still closed" due to the accident".

What can I say instead of "was still closed"?

You can use alternatives like "remained closed", "stayed closed", or "had not reopened" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was still shut" instead of "was still closed"?

Yes, "was still shut" is a valid alternative. Both phrases have similar meanings and can be used interchangeably in many contexts.

What's the difference between "was still closed" and "was closed"?

"Was closed" simply states that something was shut at a certain time. "Was still closed" implies that something had been closed for a duration and remained so at the time being discussed. The usage of "still" adds an element of continuity or expectation that it might have been open by then.