were met by

USAGE SUMMARY

"were met by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe two groups meeting or a group of people being met by someone. Example: When the team arrived at the stadium, they were met by a large crowd of excited supporters.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These remarks were met by derision.

The New York Times

The remarks were met by enthusiastic applause.

The Guardian

Transort costs were met by Electronic Arts.

The Guardian - Tech

Defined entry criteria were met by twelve clinical practice guidelines.

Kontakt

Calls were met by constraints from University faculty for rigor.

Journal of Cleaner Production

Transport and accommodation costs were met by Microsoft.

The Guardian - Tech

Accommodation and travel expenses were met by Activision.

The Guardian - Tech

At Concord, the British were met by hundreds of militiamen.

Britannica

Instead, the smugglers were met by Ghanaian police officers.

The New Yorker

All sick passengers were met by paramedics in Sydney.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Reverend Doctor's operating costs were met by Skoglund Dairies.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, use "were met by" when describing planned encounters or expected responses. This adds anticipation and emphasis to the meeting or interaction.

Common error

Avoid using "were met by" in excessively passive constructions that obscure the actor performing the action. For example, instead of "Mistakes were met by criticism", specify who is doing the criticizing for a more direct and impactful sentence: "The mistakes were met by the manager's criticism".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were met by" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence experienced an encounter or reception. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were met by" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to describe encounters or receptions. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is perfectly usable in written English. It is prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts, with authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times frequently employing it. When using "were met by", ensure clarity by specifying the subject and actor performing the meeting and be mindful of overly passive constructions that could obscure the sentence's meaning. Alternatives like "were greeted by" or "encountered" can provide nuanced variations depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were greeted by

Highlights a welcoming reception or initial interaction.

were welcomed by

Implies a friendly and positive reception.

were received by

Suggests a formal or arranged meeting.

encountered

Emphasizes a direct meeting or confrontation, often unexpected.

were confronted by

Implies a hostile or challenging encounter.

were faced with

Focuses on the challenges or obstacles presented.

were attended by

Highlights the presence of someone at an event.

were fulfilled by

Focuses on satisfying requirements or expectations.

were satisfied by

Suggests that needs or criteria were adequately met.

were answered by

Focuses on a response or solution to a question or need.

FAQs

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

Use "were met by" to describe an encounter or reception. For instance, "The team "were met by" cheering fans upon their arrival" shows a positive reception.

What phrases are similar to "were met by"?

Alternatives include "were greeted by", "were received by", or "encountered", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

While "were met by" is a passive construction, active voice can sometimes provide more clarity. For example, instead of "The proposal "were met by" resistance", you could say "Critics resisted the proposal."

What's the difference between "were met by" and "encountered"?

"Were met by" often implies an arranged or expected meeting, while "encountered" suggests a more chance or unexpected meeting. For example, "The delegation "were met by" the ambassador" suggests a planned meeting, whereas "They "encountered" unexpected delays" implies unforeseen issues.