Jump To:

• were
  were

  verb

  a second person singular past indicative; first, second, and third person plural past indicative; and past subjunctive of be.
• we're
  we're

  contraction of we are:

were

¹ American  

[wur, wer, wair] / wɜr, wər, wɛər /

verb

1. a second person singular past indicative; first, second, and third person plural past indicative; and past subjunctive of be.

---

we're ² American  

[weer] / wɪər /

1. contraction of we are:

   We're happy to see you.

---

were ¹ British  

/ wɜː, wə /

verb

1. the plural form of the past tense (indicative mood) of be and the singular form used with you. It is also used as a subjunctive, esp in conditional sentences

---

we're ² British  

/ wɪə /

contraction

1. we are

---

Grammar

See subjunctive.

Usage

See contraction.

Were, as a remnant of the past subjunctive in English, is used in formal contexts in clauses expressing hypotheses ( if he were to die, she would inherit everything ), suppositions contrary to fact ( if I were you, I would be careful ), and desire ( I wish he were there now ). In informal speech, however, was is often used instead

Etymology

Origin of were

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English wǣre past subjunctive, wǣre 2nd-person singular past and wǣron 2nd-person plural past of wesan “to be”; cognate with Dutch, German waren, Danish var. See was

Example Sentences

“When I’m sitting with my girls and we’re just talking about lunch, we have a ‘No talking about Academy’ rule,” said Grace.

From Slate • Jun. 24, 2026

"We're here to play cricket - but it's not just cricket, we're here to fight for them and this has meant a lot for us."

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

“It’s not that difficult to convince them that we’ll deliver … and that is why we’re getting all this traction.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 24, 2026

They know that there are going to be problems, we're well organized.

From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026

He thinks for a moment, and I know if I don’t convince him I’m really okay, we’re going to end up in the hospital to have me checked out.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold