we were discovered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were discovered" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a group of people was found or identified, often in a context where they were previously hidden or unknown. Example: "After weeks of hiding in the forest, we were discovered by a search party looking for us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Then we were discovered and his marriage ended.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We were calm but conscious that the crowd could turn on us if we were discovered," says Marriott, who is now the UK's ambassador to Yemen.

BBC

And if we were discovered, it would end badly.

Huffington Post

What if we actually lived like everyone IS my neighbor?... soon we were discovered by Japanese soldiers.

Huffington Post

We are 10 meters under the surface, and we've been working 24 hours by working eight-hour shifts… We have hit water... and once, we were discovered by the regime forces who set off a mine".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"We were discovering it as we were doing it".

The New Yorker

Having a butler, we were discovering, is not a bad thing.

The New York Times - Travel

As things settled, we were discovering that New Humanitarian was a pretty remarkable place.

The New York Times - Magazine

We weren't shopping, I told myself; we were discovering Parisian architecture.

The New York Times

"We were discovering the world, he was always pushing hard and wanting to race.

The New York Times - Sports

When we were discovering Sartre, Norman Mailer and Dostoyevsky's Notes from the Underground.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were discovered" when you want to emphasize the act of being found, especially after being hidden or unknown. It's suitable for narrative contexts and factual reporting.

Common error

While "we were discovered" is grammatically correct, overuse of the passive voice can make your writing sound weak or indirect. Consider if an active voice construction, such as "someone discovered us", would be more impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were discovered" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the group represented by "we" was the recipient of the action of being found or revealed. Ludwig provides examples in narrative and reporting contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were discovered" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to describe the act of being found, particularly after being hidden or unknown. While it's not a frequently used phrase, as demonstrated by Ludwig, its usage is correct and versatile across different writing styles. The Ludwig AI validates its correctness. Keep in mind to avoid overusing passive voice. Consider using alternatives like "we were found" or "we were detected" for variety or when an active voice would be more impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were detected

Focuses on the act of being found or noticed, often by technical means.

we were found

A simpler, more direct way of saying "we were discovered".

our presence was revealed

Emphasizes the revealing of a hidden presence.

we were exposed

Suggests a negative connotation of being uncovered, implying vulnerability.

we were located

Highlights the act of finding someone's location.

our hiding place was found

Specifically refers to finding a place of concealment.

we were identified

Focuses on the act of being recognized or named.

we were intercepted

Implies being stopped or caught while in transit.

our secret was out

Highlights the disclosure of a secret that was previously hidden.

we came to light

Suggests that something previously unknown became public knowledge.

FAQs

What does "we were discovered" mean?

It means that a group of people who were previously hidden, unknown, or lost were found or located.

What can I say instead of "we were discovered"?

You can use alternatives like "we were found", "we were detected", or "our presence was revealed" depending on the context.

Is "we were discovered" formal or informal?

The phrase "we were discovered" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding text and the intended audience.

How to use "we were discovered" in a sentence?

You can use it in sentences like, "After hiding for days, we were discovered by the enemy soldiers" or "During the archaeological dig, we were discovered a hidden chamber".