we
Americanpronoun
-
us,
objective
-
our,
possessive
-
ours
possessive
-
nominative plural of I.
-
(used to denote oneself and another or others).
We have two children. In this block we all own our own houses.
-
(used to denote people in general).
the marvels of science that we take for granted.
-
(used to indicate a particular profession, nationality, political party, etc., that includes the speaker or writer).
We in the medical profession have moral responsibilities.
-
Also called the royal we. (used by a sovereign, or by other high officials and dignitaries, in place of I in formal speech).
We do not wear this crown without humility.
-
Also called the editorial we. (used by editors, writers, etc., to avoid the too personal or specific I or to represent a collective viewpoint).
As for this column, we will have nothing to do with shady politicians.
-
you (used familiarly, often with mild condescension or sarcasm, as in addressing a child, a patient, etc.).
We know that's naughty, don't we? It's time we took our medicine.
-
(used in the predicate following a copulative verb).
It is we who should thank you.
-
(used in apposition with a noun, especially for emphasis).
We Americans are a sturdy lot.
pronoun
-
refers to the speaker or writer and another person or other people
we should go now
-
refers to all people or people in general
the planet on which we live
-
-
when used by editors or other writers, and formerly by monarchs, a formal word for I 1
-
( as noun )
he uses the royal we in his pompous moods
-
-
informal used instead of you with a tone of persuasiveness, condescension, or sarcasm
how are we today?
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of we
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English wē; cognate with Dutch wij, German wir, Old Norse vēr, Gothic weis
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
We had found the Margiela nightgown while we were shopping in London — we shop all the time, save and pull for events so we can tailor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Are we all going to have the same dolphin-smooth faces soon, with filler and face-lifts simply the price of admission for participating in polite society?
From Slate ● Sep. 2, 2026
"She said, 'We convincingly beat Serrano - where do we go from there?' I said I'll agree on one condition."
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
“The house was small, so we built onto it to add a kitchen. We use the barns as a sanctuary for rescued horses, ducks, chickens, peacocks, goats, and other animals,” she went on.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
“We were thinking a few weeks from now, we might go away together.”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
“Arte was very supportive of us, whatever the outside noise was,” Neto said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Like many wellness practices that promise to make us better and more beautiful, this one is relatively niche.
From Slate ● Sep. 2, 2026
Reflecting on the letter years later, Gogarty added: "It's mind-blowing. Especially when she wrote, 'maybe one day they'll let us box in the Olympics'."
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
In addition, upon either of us passing away, the surviving spouse will receive 100% of the deceased spouse’s pension.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
I can’t imagine a time when Caesar hasn’t been with us.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
“We have to invite people back to our city. We have been yearning to get back a big music festival on our beach to showcase the city, because the beach is our best asset.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
It can feel as if we are moving toward a similar aesthetic conformity in our own world.
From Slate ● Sep. 2, 2026
"It's something we've put a bigger priority on it in terms of our work because we realise how important it is," Dawes said.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Given our relatively high level of guaranteed pension income, does it actually make sense for us to pursue Roth conversions?
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
Then he charges Father for the seed, tools, food, and fabric our family needed during the year.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
In July, outgoing prime minister Sir Keir Starmer issued a formal apology to those mothers, telling them: "The shame is not yours... the shame is ours."
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
Dolly was one of us, ours, but of course she was also much more.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
"Only studies like ours offer an overview of these traditions which bear witness to genuine know-how and diverse traditions."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026
“But most important, it helps companies like ours that are creating thousands of high-quality American jobs.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
I was never going back to that work, but if this was true, then those I’d left behind and all who worked for masters like ours were truly on their own.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
