as it were

Idioms  

1. Seemingly, in a way, as in He was living in a dream world, as it were. A shortening of “as if it were so,” this idiom has been in use since Chaucer's time (he had it in his Nun's Priest's Tale, c. 1386). Also see so to speak.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

as it were

Storrie’s “SNL” nomination is the voters’ way of signaling they’re down to come to the cottage, as it were.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

"We don't mind the gamification of Taylor Swift, as it were," says Dani Winchester, an event planner and co-host of the Taylearning podcast.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

But the realization dawned that Ronnie might, as it were, take the bullet for Stuart.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

She stated that “reader and writer sit down to a game, as it were, with the odds, of course, altogether on the latter’s side.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

But only partially true: Being invisible and without substance, a disembodied voice, as it were, what else could I do?

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison