was undelivered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was undelivered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something, typically a message or package, that was not successfully delivered to its intended recipient. Example: "The package was undelivered due to an incorrect address."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That the lecture was undelivered does not say very much about Gödel's commitment to it, as the writing of undelivered or unsubmitted manuscripts was typical of Gödel's philosophical activity from about the 1950s.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The telegram, you see, is undelivered,.

The New Yorker

In total, 708,000 pieces of correspondence were undelivered.

The Guardian

She said she was unsure how many cars were undelivered.

The New York Times

Of 168 SMS, 0.6 7.1% were undelivered, varying by mobile service provider.

Appetite

Forty-three women (86%) were undelivered on admission (mean gestational age, 31.6 weeks).

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

By Dorothy Lobrano The New Yorker, March 9 , 1963P. 47 The telegram, you see, is undelivered, View Article By Rivka Galchen By Ceridwen Dovey By Jia Tolentino By Malcolm Gladwell.

The New Yorker

A few hours later a W.U. messenger arrived with a printed blank telling him why the telegram had been undelivered.

The New Yorker

The telegram, you see, is undelivered, Incidental Intelligence: All around the town, Woolworth's is selling wax roses without thorns for ten cents apiece.

The New Yorker

Recently I read about professional celebrants, who ensure that every meaningful moment in life (from pet passings to weight loss) is properly celebrated and no speech is undelivered.

The New York Times

I submitted my application by the deadline but recently received a notice from SOPHAS indicating that my application is "undelivered" and that I need to take action and "resubmit" my application.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing delivery failures, use "was undelivered" for clarity and conciseness, especially in formal reports or news articles. This emphasizes that the delivery process did not succeed.

Common error

Avoid using "was undelivered" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "didn't arrive" or "wasn't delivered" are more appropriate and sound natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was undelivered" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that something (e.g., a message, package, or promise) did not complete the process of being delivered. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was undelivered" describes a situation where an item or message did not reach its intended destination. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and versatile, suitable for news reports, scientific articles, and formal communications. While it can be replaced with simpler terms in casual contexts, "was undelivered" provides a clear and concise way to report delivery failures. Its frequency and presence in authoritative sources like The New Yorker and The New York Times underscore its reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to be delivered

Emphasizes the failure in the action of delivering, maintaining a similar level of formality.

did not reach its destination

Focuses on the destination aspect, suitable for contexts where the endpoint is important.

remained unsent

Highlights the absence of sending, useful when the initiation of delivery is in question.

was not fulfilled

Broadens the scope to include promises or expectations, less specific to physical delivery.

was not successfully conveyed

Focuses on the successful transmission of information, applicable to messages or signals.

never arrived

Simplifies the concept to the arrival aspect, suitable for informal contexts.

was not handed over

Specifies the action of handing over, relevant in contexts involving transfer of possession.

bounced back

Informal and specific to messages or items that are returned to the sender.

met with failure

Emphasizes the unsuccessful attempt at delivery, suitable when the effort is significant.

was lost in transit

Highlights the loss during the delivery process, suitable for scenarios where the item disappeared en route.

FAQs

What does "was undelivered" mean?

The phrase "was undelivered" means that something, such as a message or package, did not reach its intended recipient or destination.

How can I use "was undelivered" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The package "was undelivered" due to an incorrect address", or "The email "was undelivered" because the server was down".

What can I say instead of "was undelivered"?

Alternatives include "did not arrive", "failed to be delivered", or "never reached its destination", depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "was undelivered" than "didn't get delivered"?

Yes, "was undelivered" is generally considered more formal and is often used in professional or official communications, while "didn't get delivered" is more casual.