were relieved

USAGE SUMMARY

"were relieved" is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to express a feeling of relief after a difficult or stressful situation has passed. For example: After the fire alarm went off, the students were relieved to find out that it was only a false alarm.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Giants were relieved.

The New York Times - Sports

Some were relieved.

The New York Times

"But they were relieved.

The New York Times - Travel

The Mets hitters were relieved.

The New York Times - Sports

We were relieved, then elated.

The New York Times

Still, Greek officials were relieved.

The Washington Post

Some were relieved, others deflated.

The New York Times

Others said they were relieved.

The New York Times

But even some government opponents were relieved.

The New York Times

The staff were relieved to escape unharmed.

Independent

Now, after his pitch, they were relieved.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were relieved" to clearly express a feeling of lessened anxiety or burden after a period of uncertainty or stress.

Common error

Ensure the tense is consistent; using "are relieved" might be appropriate for a present or future scenario, but "were relieved" describes a past experience of relief.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were relieved" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject experienced a state of relief. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is often used to express a feeling of lessened anxiety or burden.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were relieved" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to express a sense of relief after a stressful or uncertain situation. As Ludwig AI points out, it's commonly used in written English and can be found across various contexts, particularly in news and media. Alternatives like "felt a sense of relief" or "experienced relief" can add nuance. Remember to use the correct tense and ensure subject-verb agreement for clarity. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "were relieved" to convey relief in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

felt a sense of relief

Emphasizes the feeling or sensation of relief.

experienced relief

Focuses on the act of undergoing a feeling of relief.

were comforted

Suggests a sense of solace and reassurance, in addition to relief.

felt reassured

Highlights the restored confidence and peace of mind.

were assuaged

Implies a lessening of negative feelings or concerns.

felt lighter

Conveys a feeling of reduced burden or stress.

had their fears allayed

Focuses on the reduction or removal of fear.

were eased

Emphasizes the reduction of tension or discomfort.

felt a weight lifted

Suggests a significant burden has been removed.

were unburdened

Highlights the removal of a responsibility or worry.

FAQs

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

You can use "were relieved" to describe a past feeling of relief. For example, "They "were relieved" to hear the good news".

What are some alternatives to saying "were relieved"?

Alternatives include "felt a sense of relief", "experienced relief", or "were comforted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was relieved" instead of "were relieved"?

"Was relieved" is used for singular subjects, while "were relieved" is used for plural subjects. For example, "He was relieved" versus "They "were relieved"".

What's the difference between "were relieved" and "felt relieved"?

"Were relieved" implies a passive reception of relief, while "felt relieved" emphasizes the active experience of the emotion. The difference is subtle, but "felt relieved" is more direct.