were consumed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were consumed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been eaten, used up, or depleted in the past. Example: "The resources were consumed quickly during the project, leaving little for future use."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Weekends were consumed by soccer.

The New York Times - Sports

Both were consumed in moments.

The New York Times

The 1980s were consumed by leadership struggles.

The Economist

Seventeen percent more hot breakfasts were consumed.

The New York Times

And some were consumed by the streets.

The New York Times

Then they were consumed by moss.

The New Yorker

Psssst: 40 percent were consumed by adults.

The New York Times - Magazine

Large amounts of arak were consumed.

The New York Times

Snyder's years in Japan were consumed with koan study.

The New Yorker

"We were consumed by finding our story," she said.

The New York Times

"They were consumed with great gusto as well".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were consumed" in contexts where you want to emphasize the process of using something up completely, whether it's resources, time, or even emotions. For example, "The company's profits were consumed by the rising costs of raw materials."

Common error

Avoid using "were consumed" when the active voice would be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The cake were consumed by the children", a more natural phrasing would be "The children consumed the cake".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were consumed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being consumed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and common way to express this idea, particularly when the agent performing the action is unknown or unimportant.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Huffington Post

3%

The New Yorker

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were consumed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive voice construction. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase effectively conveys that something has been completely used up, eaten, or destroyed. It appears most often in News & Media and Science contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for diverse writing scenarios. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize the action's result rather than the actor, and avoid overuse in active voice contexts for more direct communication. Semantically related phrases include "were used up" and "were depleted", offering subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were used up

Focuses on the completion of usage, emphasizing the exhaustion of a resource.

were depleted

Highlights the reduction of something to a low level, suggesting scarcity.

were exhausted

Similar to 'depleted', but can also imply fatigue or complete loss of energy.

were devoured

Implies rapid and enthusiastic consumption, often in the context of food or information.

were eaten

Specifically refers to the act of eating, suitable when the context involves food.

were destroyed

Emphasizes complete annihilation or ruin, often by a destructive force.

were spent

Focuses on the allocation and use of resources, such as time or money.

were utilized

Highlights the practical application and use of something for a specific purpose.

were absorbed

Implies assimilation or integration, often used in contexts of learning or physical absorption.

were finished

Indicates the completion of an activity or the end of something's existence.

FAQs

How can I use "were consumed" in a sentence?

You can use "were consumed" to indicate that something has been completely used up, eaten, or destroyed. For example, "All the cookies "were eaten"" or "The forest "was destroyed by fire" and the flames "were consuming" everything in its path".

What's a good alternative to "were consumed"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "were consumed" include "were used up", ""were eaten"", "were devoured", or "were depleted".

Is it correct to say "was consumed" instead of "were consumed"?

No, "was consumed" is used for singular subjects, while "were consumed" is used for plural subjects. For example, "The apple was consumed" (singular) versus "The apples were consumed" (plural).

What is the difference between "were consumed" and "were used"?

"Were consumed" implies that something is completely used up or destroyed, whereas "were used" simply means something was put to service. "Were consumed" carries a stronger sense of depletion.