was tripped

USAGE SUMMARY

'was tripped' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, you could use the phrase in a sentence such as: "The runner was tripped by an opponent, causing him to lose the race."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He was tripped.

The Guardian - Sport

Then Bryant was tripped by Jones.

The New York Times - Sports

Well, it's because he was tripped by the defensive back.

The New York Times - Sports

(He was tripped up by the word "edelweiss").

Independent

She was tripped up, however, by a glass slipper.

The New York Times

Herman quickly increased the United States' advantage after he was tripped in the box.

The New York Times

Mr. Petraeus was tripped up by an F.B.I. investigation that stumbled across his extramarital relationship.

The New York Times

The last administration was tripped up by the Israel-Hizbullah war in 2006.

The Economist

On Thursday, Mr. Dimon explained how JPMorgan was tripped up with its value-at-risk measure.

The New York Times

Another booby trap was tripped; once more there were screams and smoke.

The New Yorker

I was tripped by a defender and fell hard, landing on my chest.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical writing, use it to describe the engagement of a safety mechanism or circuit breaker (e.g., "the breaker was tripped").

Common error

Do not use "was tripped" when the subject fell accidentally without an external cause. If someone simply loses their balance, the active voice "tripped" is more accurate. Reserve "was tripped" for instances where a specific person, object, or mechanism initiated the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was tripped" serves as a passive verb construction in the past tense. According to Ludwig AI, it combines the auxiliary verb "was" with the past participle "tripped" to indicate that the subject received the action of the verb. This is highly effective in sports reporting where the focus is on the foul committed against a player.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Sports Reporting

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Fiction & Literature

5%

Business Correspondence

3%

Legal Documents

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was tripped" is a versatile and grammatically correct passive construction used extensively in professional English. Ludwig AI highlights its prevalence in sports journalism (describing fouls), general news (describing accidents or investigative 'trip-ups'), and technical fields (describing activated switches). Because it is a passive form, it is most effective when the cause of the stumble or trigger is the focal point of the sentence. With high authority scores from sources like The New York Times and BBC, writers can use this phrase with confidence in both neutral and formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was tripped up

Uses a phrasal verb that often implies being confused or caught by a mistake.

was brought down

Common in sports to describe a player being tackled or falling due to contact.

was knocked over

Suggests a more forceful collision or impact causing a fall.

was triggered

Best for mechanical contexts like alarms, sensors, or switches.

was activated

A more formal term for setting a mechanical or electronic system in motion.

was upended

A more dramatic or literal way to describe being flipped or knocked over.

was fouled

Specific to sports contexts where the trip was an illegal move.

was caught out

Used figuratively when someone is trapped by their own mistake or a trick question.

was set off

Commonly used for explosives, alarms, or emotional reactions.

was obstructed

Focuses on the barrier that caused the stumble rather than the fall itself.

FAQs

How do I use "was tripped" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone falling due to an obstacle, as in: "The player <a href="/s/was+tripped+in+the+box" target="_blank" rel="alternative">was tripped in the box, resulting in a penalty."

What is the difference between "was tripped" and "tripped"?

The phrase "was tripped" is passive, meaning someone or something else caused the fall. In contrast, "<a href="/s/tripped" target="_blank" rel="alternative">tripped" is active and usually implies an accidental stumble by the person themselves.

Can "was tripped" be used for electronic devices?

Yes, in technical contexts, it is perfectly correct. For example, you might say "the <a href="/s/circuit+breaker+was+tripped" target="_blank" rel="alternative">circuit breaker was tripped" to indicate that a safety switch has been activated.

What can I say instead of "was tripped up" by a question?

You might use alternatives like "<a href="/s/was+stumped+by" target="_blank" rel="alternative">was stumped by", "<a href="/s/was+flustered+by" target="_blank" rel="alternative">was flustered by", or "<a href="/s/was+confused+by" target="_blank" rel="alternative">was confused by" depending on the specific reaction.