were engaged

USAGE SUMMARY

"were engaged" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it when talking about a couple who are planning to get married. For example: "John and Mary were engaged and planned to get married in the early fall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mormons were engaged in polygamy.

The New York Times

" 'You were engaged,' I said.

The New Yorker

Last month, they were engaged.

The New York Times

"We were engaged".

The New York Times - Sports

They were engaged this spring.

The New Yorker

They were engaged.

MIT Technology Review

Lawyers were engaged, detectives were engaged, psychologists, the judiciary.

The New York Times - Magazine

They were engaged June 30.

The New York Times

Both were infants when they were engaged.

The New York Times

They were engaged within a year.

The New Yorker

Six weeks later, they were engaged.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were engaged" to clearly indicate that a couple had formally agreed to marry at a specific point in the past. For example, "They were engaged last summer and are planning a spring wedding."

Common error

Avoid using "were engaged" to describe the present state. If the engagement is ongoing, use "are engaged". For example, it's incorrect to say "They were engaged now"; instead, say "They are engaged now".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were engaged" functions as a stative verb phrase, indicating a past state of being betrothed or promised in marriage. Ludwig showcases numerous examples where this phrase is used to describe couples who had previously committed to marriage. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were engaged" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that indicates a past state of being betrothed or promised in marriage. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, academic writing, and everyday conversations. Remember to use it accurately to describe past events and avoid tense errors. Alternatives like "got engaged" and "became engaged" can offer similar meanings, providing flexibility in your writing while maintaining clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

got engaged

Emphasizes the action of becoming engaged at a specific point in time.

agreed to wed

Focuses on the agreement between two people to get married.

committed to marry

Stresses the commitment made to enter into marriage.

planned to marry

Focuses on the intention and plan to get married, rather than the formal engagement.

promised to marry each other

Highlights the mutual promise made by both parties.

entered into an engagement

Describes the act of formally beginning an engagement period.

became betrothed

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "were engaged".

announced their engagement

Emphasizes the public declaration of their intention to marry.

were affianced

Similar to 'became betrothed', this term is less common in modern usage.

set a wedding date

Highlights the concrete step of setting a date for the wedding ceremony.

FAQs

How do I use "were engaged" in a sentence?

"Were engaged" indicates a past state of being promised in marriage. For example, "They were engaged for two years before finally getting married."

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

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "got engaged", "became engaged", or "planned to marry".

Is it correct to say "they are engaged since last year"?

No, the correct way to say it is "They have been engaged since last year" or "They were engaged last year and still are".

What is the difference between "were engaged" and "are engaged"?

"Were engaged" refers to a past state, while "are engaged" refers to the present. "They were engaged" means they have already been engaged at some point, while "They are engaged" means they are currently engaged.