we were empowered to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were empowered to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a group or individuals were given the authority or ability to take action or make decisions. Example: "In our organization, we were empowered to make changes that would improve employee satisfaction and productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Comments like, 'You belong in the kitchen.' Growing up in the States we were empowered to go and be strong women".

The Guardian - Sport

And vice versa: which of us can be sure, after all, that if we were empowered to create, say, admiralties we would not give them to our middle-aged children for their birthdays?

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And once we're empowered to leave, we can make something new.

The Guardian - Opinion

The fellowship works because we are empowered to learn fast, ask questions and then give back.

The Guardian

With what? A. We were given this painted cow years ago, and we look to it now as this kind of fun factor in that we're empowered to do stuff for no other reason except to just do it.

The New York Times

They are also united by their belief that a new world is possible – one where instead of becoming increasingly reliant on large companies to do everything for us, we are empowered to learn and build with the technologies that surround us.

The Guardian

Note, please, that the operative verb on Facebook is "to friend," not the more conventional (and sincere) "to befriend"; and so by a linguistic sleight of hand, we are empowered to create an association that stops short of being a community, whose whole is considerably less than the sum of its parts.

Forbes

We are empowered to protect ourselves and lead full and healthy lives".

Huffington Post

We are empowered to put faith back into ourselves and to trust that together we are strong enough to overcome all obstacles.

Huffington Post

Most importantly, when we live a good life, we're empowered to help others, and that's truly the most rewarding task of all.

Huffington Post

We are empowered to take action from the bottom up, but making change on an individual level will not fix the larger structural problems.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were empowered to" when you want to emphasize that a group or individuals were given both the authority and the means to take action or make decisions, creating a sense of autonomy and responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "we were empowered to" when the action was actually dictated or forced upon the group. "Empowerment" implies a degree of choice and control that is absent when the action is mandatory.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were empowered to" functions as a declaration of agency, indicating that a group or individual possessed the authority and capability to act. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were empowered to" signifies that a group or individual was granted the authority and means to take action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and usable in written English. While primarily found in news and media contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral register, appropriate for professional and informative communication. The related phrases offer options to express similar ideas using alternative vocabulary or focusing on specific aspects of authorization, delegation or capability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were given the power to

Emphasizes the granting of power or ability.

we were enabled to

Focuses on providing the means or capability to perform an action.

we were authorized to

Replaces 'empowered' with 'authorized', focusing on the formal permission aspect.

we were permitted to

Highlights that permission was granted, often by a higher authority.

we had the right to

Shifts the focus to the entitlement or legal permission to do something.

we were entrusted to

Implies a level of trust and responsibility given to perform a task.

we were delegated to

Highlights the assignment of a task or responsibility from a superior.

we were qualified to

Focuses on having the necessary skills or qualifications to perform an action.

we were in a position to

Highlights the circumstances allowing the possibility to act.

we gained the ability to

Suggests an increase in knowledge or skills that allowed the possibility to act.

FAQs

What does "we were empowered to" mean?

The phrase "we were empowered to" means that a group or individuals were given the authority or ability to do something. It suggests that they had the necessary resources and support to take action or make decisions.

What can I say instead of "we were empowered to"?

You can use alternatives like "we were authorized to", "we had the right to", or "we were given the power to" depending on the specific context.

Is "we were empowered to" grammatically correct?

Yes, "we were empowered to" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" with the past participle of "empower", followed by "to" and an infinitive verb.

How can I use "we were empowered to" in a sentence?

You can use "we were empowered to" to describe situations where a group or individual was granted the authority or ability to take action. For example: "In our organization, "we were empowered to" make changes that would improve employee satisfaction and productivity."