were sold out

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "were sold out" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when something is out of stock or all tickets have been sold. For example: "We were sorry to inform the customer that all the tickets for the concert were sold out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"The classes were sold out from the beginning," she said.

The New York Times - Arts

Performances were sold out, with long lines for returned tickets.

The New York Times - Arts

The first day's events were sold out on Thursday.

The New York Times

All the condominiums were sold out in 2013.

The New York Times

"I called to order more, but they were sold out".

The New York Times

All 13 performances were sold out before the run began.

The New York Times

Officials said 14 matches were sold out, including the final, semifinals and South Africa's group games.

The New York Times - Sports

In Southampton, N.Y., flashlights and batteries were sold out at one hardware store.

The New York Times

Some 32 of the 44 performances were sold out, many before the stand even began.

The New York Times

Some of its largest mining vehicles were sold out for the year.

The New York Times

Face masks were sold out".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were sold out" to clearly and concisely indicate that all items or tickets available for purchase have been bought. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "was sold out" when referring to multiple items or events. "Was sold out" is only appropriate for singular subjects; use "were sold out" for plural subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were sold out" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject experienced the action of being completely sold. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Wiki

11%

Huffington Post

10%

Less common in

The Guardian

3%

The New Yorker

1%

TechCrunch

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were sold out" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that all available items or tickets have been purchased. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and numerous examples demonstrate its prevalence in news, media, and general communication. When writing, remember to use "were" for plural subjects and consider alternative phrases like "had no tickets available" or "were completely booked" to add variety. By understanding its proper usage and context, you can effectively convey information about unavailability in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been completely purchased

Emphasizes the action of buying all available items or tickets.

had no tickets available

Focuses on the lack of available tickets without explicitly mentioning the selling process.

had run out

Indicates that the supply was exhausted.

were completely booked

Applies more broadly to reservations or appointments, not just sales.

were all gone

A more informal way of saying that something is no longer available.

were fully reserved

Similar to "completely booked", emphasizing reservation.

were unavailable for purchase

Highlights the inability to buy, possibly due to reasons other than being sold out.

were no longer in stock

Specifically refers to items being out of stock in a retail setting.

were depleted

Emphasizes that the stock or supply has been significantly reduced or exhausted.

had nothing left

A simple, direct way to indicate the complete absence of something.

FAQs

How can I use "were sold out" in a sentence?

You can use "were sold out" to indicate that all available items or tickets have been purchased. For example, "The tickets for the concert /s/were+sold+out weeks in advance".

What's a more formal way to say "were sold out"?

In a more formal context, you could say "had been completely purchased" or "were unavailable for purchase".

Is it correct to say "was sold out" instead of "were sold out"?

"Was sold out" is used for singular nouns, while "were sold out" is used for plural nouns. For example, "The event was sold out", but "The tickets were sold out".

What are some alternative phrases to "were sold out" that I can use?

You can use alternatives such as "had no tickets available", "were completely booked", or "were all gone" depending on the context.