was

[ wuhz, woz; unstressed wuhz ]

verb

1. first and third person singular past indicative of be.

was

/ wɒz; wəz /

verb

1. See be
   the past tense (indicative mood) of be 1
2. not_standard.
   a form of the subjunctive mood used in place of were, esp in conditional sentences

   if the film was to be with you, would you be able to process it?

Word History and Origins

Origin of was¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English wæs, past tense singular of wesan “to be”; cognate with Old Frisian, Old High German, Gothic was, Old Norse var; wassail

Word History and Origins

Origin of was¹

Old English wæs, from wesan to be; related to Old Frisian, Old High German was, Old Norse var

Example Sentences

Katherine Doyle: “The news says there was/has been a homicide in Danvers High School.”

From The Daily Beast

And Texas was/is on its way to becoming a swing state by 2024 or so, so this could have an impact on that.

From The Daily Beast

The good count was/is a local big shot and benefactor, but I can't seem to find out anything else about him.

From The Daily Beast

Let's not lose sight of the other leg--the I-was-CEO-I-wasn't-in-charge-I-retired-retroactively-but-I-still-got-paid leg.

From The Daily Beast

I could not make out what it was, for the wind-was rustling the corn-shocks, but I arose and feigned to listen.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Newdegate was a hard-mouthed witness, but he-was saddled, bridled, and ridden to the winning-post.

From Project Gutenberg

Everything else-even endowments given by private persons a few years before the Act was passed-was swept away.

From Project Gutenberg

Burckhardt was on that 8:51 bus, every morning of every day-that-was-June-15th, never different by a hair or a moment.

From Project Gutenberg

He is a most capable and felicitous talker-was born for an orator, I think.

From Project Gutenberg