were fulfilled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were fulfilled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been completed or achieved, often in a context related to promises, prophecies, or expectations. Example: "The conditions of the agreement were fulfilled, allowing the project to move forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most of them were fulfilled.

The New York Times

Some of those hopes were fulfilled.

The New Yorker

His expectations, however, were fulfilled here and there.

The Guardian - Sport

We had high expectations and they were fulfilled.

The Guardian

Presumably, his ambitions as citizen and artist were fulfilled.

The New York Times - Arts

The league and the highly successful World Cup were fulfilled but enervating dreams.

The New York Times - Sports

It was not clear who the documents were requested from and whether the requests were fulfilled.

The New York Times

A conference in London in 1953 produced the agreement whose terms were fulfilled in October.

The New York Times

One mourner, Stepan Kosik, 55, said: "Our hopes from 1989 were fulfilled only partly.

The New York Times

"Whatever requests were ever made of us were fulfilled," Ms. Remauro said.

The New York Times

All objectives were fulfilled.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were fulfilled" when emphasizing that expectations, requirements, or promises have been successfully met. It is especially useful in formal contexts where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "were fulfilled" when the active voice is more appropriate and direct. For instance, instead of "The objectives were fulfilled by the team", consider "The team fulfilled the objectives" for a more concise statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were fulfilled" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject received or underwent the action of being fulfilled. It is commonly used to express the completion or realization of expectations, requirements, or promises. This aligns with Ludwig's assessment that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were fulfilled" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive verb phrase that effectively conveys the completion or realization of expectations, requirements, or promises. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely employed across various contexts, especially in scientific and news-related domains. For optimal usage, it's best to reserve this phrase for scenarios where you want to emphasize that a specific anticipation has been met. Be mindful of the potential for more direct active voice constructions to enhance clarity, and note its neutral register suits both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were satisfied

Focuses on meeting requirements or expectations.

were realized

Emphasizes the actualization or materialization of something.

were accomplished

Highlights the successful completion of a task or objective.

were achieved

Similar to 'accomplished' but emphasizes the effort and attainment.

were completed

Focuses on the finalization of a process or task.

were executed

Emphasizes the action and carrying out of a plan or order.

were honored

Indicates that a commitment or promise was kept.

were met

Focuses on reaching a standard or requirement.

came to fruition

Describes the successful development and realization of something.

were brought to pass

Implies that something was destined or foretold and then happened.

FAQs

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

Use "were fulfilled" to indicate that a requirement, promise, or expectation has been successfully met. For example: "All the conditions of the contract "were fulfilled"."

What are some alternatives to "were fulfilled"?

Some alternatives include "were satisfied", "were realized", or "were achieved", depending on the context. Each carries a slightly different nuance.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "fulfilled"?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the context. "The team fulfilled the objectives" (active) is more direct, while "The objectives "were fulfilled" by the team" (passive) emphasizes the objectives. Choose based on what you want to highlight.

What's the difference between "were fulfilled" and "were completed"?

"Were fulfilled" often implies meeting a specific expectation or requirement, while "were completed" simply means brought to an end. For example, a promise can be fulfilled, but a task is completed.