were met

USAGE SUMMARY

"were met" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to two or more people (or things) having achieved a goal or reached an agreement. For example, "The terms of the agreement were met by both parties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His requests were met.

The New York Times

"All of them were met".

The New York Times

My goals were met.

The New York Times - Sports

Few of Mbeki's promises were met.

Independent

Clegg's remarks were met with cynicism.

The Guardian

These attempts were met with mixed success.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Within two weeks my needs were met".

The New Yorker

These remarks were met by derision.

The New York Times

Her words were met with silence.

The New York Times - Magazine

Our expectations were met for this project.

Cornell University

Both those objections were met soon after.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "were met", ensure the subject clearly indicates what or who fulfilled the expectation or requirement. For instance, instead of "Requirements were met", specify "The project's requirements were met by the development team."

Common error

Avoid using "were met" in sentences where it's unclear who or what did the meeting. Passive voice can obscure the agent performing the action, leading to confusion. Instead of saying "Deadlines were met", specify "The team met all deadlines."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were met" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject received a particular response or that certain criteria or expectations have been fulfilled. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its correct grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were met" is a grammatically correct and common passive verb phrase used to indicate that requirements, expectations, or needs have been fulfilled. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent use across various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic domains. When using "were met", ensure clarity by specifying who or what did the meeting to avoid ambiguity. Consider active voice alternatives where appropriate to enhance sentence clarity. The related phrases such as "were satisfied" or "were addressed" provide options for conveying similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were met by

Highlights the reaction or reception received.

were satisfied

Emphasizes fulfillment of expectations or needs, focusing on the resulting feeling of satisfaction.

were achieved

Stresses the successful attainment of goals or objectives.

were fulfilled

Highlights the completion of promises, goals or requirements.

were complied with

Focuses on adherence to rules or regulations.

were addressed

Focuses on problems or issues being dealt with or resolved.

were honored

Implies respect to promises or engagements.

were answered

Implies a response or solution to a question or request.

were accommodated

Highlights that something has been adapted in order to fulfill some requests.

were confronted with

Indicates facing a challenge or difficult situation.

FAQs

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

The phrase "were met" indicates that certain expectations, requirements, or needs have been fulfilled. For instance, "All project goals "were met" ahead of schedule."

What are some alternatives to using "were met"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "were satisfied", "were fulfilled", or "were achieved depending on the nuance you want to convey."

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

While "were met" is in the passive voice, consider using the active voice for clarity. For example, instead of "The demands were met", you could say "The company "met the demands"."

What is the difference between "were met" and "were addressed"?

"Were met" implies that expectations or requirements were fulfilled, while "were addressed" suggests that issues or concerns were dealt with. For example, "The challenges were addressed by implementing new strategies."