we

[ wee ]

/ wi /

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See synonyms for: we / our / us on Thesaurus.com

plural pronoun, possessive our or ours,objective us.

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.

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Origin of we

before 900; Middle English, Old English wē; cognate with Dutch wij,German wir,Old Norse vēr,Gothic weis

Words nearby we

W.C.T.U., wd, WDA, WDC, WDM, we, WEA, weak, weak accumulation point, weak as a kitten, weaken

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use we in a sentence

If he thinks that he can get a deal he likes, I'd expect to see a c'mon-guys-we-can-do-this conciliatory exhortation.
What to Look for In Tonight's State of the Union|Megan McArdle|February 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Thinking about fairness comes more naturally to liberals, and they/we care passionately about it.
Michael Tomasky: Economic Fairness Isn’t Enough for Obama’s Game Plan|Michael Tomasky|April 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And MSNBC (which put out a we-wish-him-well statement) was no longer pleased by Buchanan.
Buchanan: Too Radioactive for MSNBC|Howard Kurtz|February 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The problem is that Scott is unpopular—awkward, should-we-be-seen-with-him-in-public unpopular.
10 GOP Endorsements That Still Matter in 2012’s Presidential Election|John Avlon|December 7, 2011|DAILY BEAST

To be sure, the game has anything but a “we-the-people” buzz, despite its schlubby attire.
What Obama's Golf Fashion Reveals|Robin Givhan|June 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Have we?the old man reared himself suddenly in bed, and raised two thin gnarled arms.
The Romance of His Life|Mary Cholmondeley
I then pointed to Wade and Ikewna, and then to We-we and myself, offering my arm.
Left on Labrador|Charles Asbury Stephens
I then put the same question to We-we, pointing to the other.
Left on Labrador|Charles Asbury Stephens
Ah-tn-we-tuck, the Cock Turkey; repeating his prayer from the stick in his hand, described above.
Adventures of the Ojibbeway and Ioway Indians in England, France, and Belgium; Vol. I (of 2)|George Catlin
Ah-quee-we-zaints, the Boy Chief; a venerable man of 72 years.
Adventures of the Ojibbeway and Ioway Indians in England, France, and Belgium; Vol. I (of 2)|George Catlin

British Dictionary definitions for we

/ (wiː) /

pronoun (subjective)

refers to the speaker or writer and another person or other peoplewe should go now

refers to all people or people in generalthe 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 sarcasmhow are we today?

Word Origin for we

Old English wē, related to Old Saxon wī, Old High German wir, Old Norse vēr, Danish, Swedish vi, Sanskrit vayam

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012