was unable to secure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was unable to secure" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a failure to obtain or achieve something, such as a job, funding, or an agreement. Example: "Despite her best efforts, she was unable to secure the funding needed for her project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wang was unable to secure a renovated or new arena in Uniondale.

The New York Times - Sports

But this time around Mr Rall was unable to secure any funding in advance.

The Economist

But the group was unable to secure the required 96 legislative votes.

The New York Times

(Despite multiple attempts, I was unable to secure a meeting with Kadyrov himself).

The New Yorker

Ganassi was unable to secure funding despite releasing David Stremme for the more marketable Franchitti.

The New York Times

Worse, the board was unable to secure an audience with Carter, the new defense secretary.

The Washington Post

Because they do not have a lease, Ms. Johansen was unable to secure an emergency business loan.

The New York Times

The Updata deal also gives East Lothian the fixed price contract it desired and was unable to secure with BT.

The Guardian

Cap Rock was unable to secure the financing necessary to satisfy the terms of the purchase agreement, Citizens said.

The New York Times

But It was just this brake that Cameron sought, and was unable to secure from the German chancellor, Angela Merkel.

The Guardian

Last year, he was unable to secure a board seat after waging a proxy battle against Motorola.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was unable to secure", ensure the context clearly indicates what was being attempted and why it matters. Providing specific details enhances clarity.

Common error

While acceptable in most contexts, excessively using "was unable to secure" in formal writing can make your language sound repetitive. Vary your phrasing with alternatives like "failed to obtain" or "did not succeed in getting" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was unable to secure" functions as a declarative statement indicating a lack of success in obtaining or achieving something. Ludwig shows that it's used across a wide range of contexts to report a failure to attain a specific goal, whether it's funding, a meeting, or a position.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

21%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was unable to secure" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a failure to obtain or achieve something. Ludwig's analysis shows that it's most commonly found in news and media, but also appears in academic and general writing. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English. For variety, consider alternatives like "failed to obtain" or "could not acquire". When using the phrase, make sure to clearly state what was being attempted for maximum clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to obtain

Replaces "was unable" with "failed", offering a more direct synonym. "Secure" is substituted with "obtain", which is more general.

could not acquire

Uses "could not" instead of "was unable" and "acquire" instead of "secure". This phrase highlights the effort to gain something.

did not succeed in getting

Expresses failure in achieving a specific goal. It's more verbose but emphasizes the lack of success.

proved incapable of securing

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the inability to achieve the desired outcome.

met with failure in securing

Emphasizes the negative outcome of the attempt to secure something, highlighting the unsuccessful result.

was unsuccessful in acquiring

Similar to "could not acquire" but adds a degree of emphasis on the attempt that was made.

found it impossible to secure

Focuses on the perceived impossibility of the task, rather than just the lack of success.

didn't manage to secure

A more informal way of saying "was unable to secure", using "didn't manage" to convey the lack of success.

couldn't lock down

Uses a more informal idiom to express the failure to finalize or guarantee something.

fell short of securing

Indicates an attempt was made but did not fully reach the desired outcome. Implies a near miss.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was unable to secure" in a sentence?

Alternatives include "failed to obtain", "could not acquire", or "did not succeed in getting", depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "was not able to secure" or "was unable to secure"?

"Was unable to secure" is generally more concise and preferred in most writing. "Was not able to secure" is also correct but can sound slightly less fluent.

What does "was unable to secure" mean?

The phrase "was unable to secure" means that someone or something tried to obtain or achieve something but failed. It implies an attempt was made but was unsuccessful.

What is a more formal way to say "was unable to secure"?

A more formal alternative is "proved incapable of securing". It emphasizes the inability to achieve the desired outcome, suggesting a more significant or inherent limitation.