were realized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were realized" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was achieved or brought into existence in the past. Example: "The goals we set for the project were realized ahead of schedule, leading to a successful outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unfortunately, none were realized.

Princeton University

Their fears were realized.

The New York Times - Magazine

Their worst fears were realized.

Stanford University

In some places, the fears were realized.

The New Yorker

But the team's fears were realized.

The New York Times - Sports

And his worst fears were realized.

The New York Times

And all these changes were realized peacefully.

The New York Times - Books

"And basically, my concerns were realized".

The New York Times - Sports

None of those projects were realized.

The New York Times - Arts

Only portions of this plan were realized.

The New York Times - Arts

None of the earlier plans were realized.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were realized" to indicate that something planned or hoped for actually happened. For example: "The project's goals were realized ahead of schedule."

Common error

Avoid using "were realized" when the active voice is more appropriate and direct. For example, instead of "The profits were realized by the company", consider "The company realized the profits".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were realized" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something was brought into existence or achieved. As Ludwig examples show, it's often used to express that goals, fears, or plans came to fruition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

29%

News & Media

28%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were realized" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something has been successfully achieved or brought into existence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in science, news media, and academic writing. While "were realized" can sometimes be replaced by active voice constructions for more directness, it remains a valuable tool for conveying the actualization of plans, hopes, or expectations. When considering alternative phrasing, synonyms such as "were achieved" or "were accomplished" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were achieved

Focuses on the successful attainment of a goal or objective.

were accomplished

Emphasizes the completion of a task or plan.

were fulfilled

Highlights the satisfaction of a requirement or condition.

were attained

Suggests a successful effort to reach a certain level or standard.

were understood

Indicates a comprehension or awareness of something.

were materialized

Highlights the transition from an idea to a tangible form.

were recognized

Focuses on the acknowledgment or awareness of something.

were implemented

Implies the putting of a plan or system into effect.

came to fruition

Suggests the successful development and completion of something, often over a period of time.

were brought to pass

Emphasizes the actualization or fulfillment of something predicted or intended.

FAQs

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

Use "were realized" to indicate that something that was hoped for, planned, or expected actually happened. For example, "The team's ambitions "were realized" with their championship win."

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "were achieved", "were accomplished", or "were fulfilled". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

While "were realized" (passive voice) is grammatically correct, using the active voice can often make your writing more direct and concise. For example, instead of "The benefits were realized by the new policy", you could say "The new policy realized the benefits".

What is the difference between "were realized" and "were recognized"?

"Were realized" means something came into being or was achieved, while "were recognized" means something was acknowledged or identified. For example, "The project's goals "were realized"", versus "The project's flaws were recognized".