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View synonyms for were

were

1

[ wur; unstressed wer; British also wair ]

verb

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


we're

2

[ weer ]

  1. contraction of we are:

    We're happy to see you.

were

1

/ 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
“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


we're

2

/ wɪə /

contraction of

  1. we are
“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
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Usage Note

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Usage

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
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Grammar Note

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Word History and Origins

Origin of were1

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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of were1

Old English wērun, wæron past tense plural of wesan to be; related to Old Norse vera, Old Frisian weria, Old High German werōn to last
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Example Sentences

Having yourself immortalized with a paunch indicated you were wealthy/held high office/were involved in derring-do.

If you find yourself hungering for more humorous were-action, check out the British version of Being Human on BBC America.

So too, does Henry Kissinger and did the late Arthur Schlesinger Jr., but they are/were apparently another story.

There was a certain difficulty in obtaining the necessary funds without announcing precisely what they-were for.

In pattern it showed bright green flowers-that-never-were sprawling on a purple background.

In Abyssinia, at the present day, blacksmiths are considered to be were-wolves, according to Winstanley.

In tropic countries we have stories of supernatural snakes, who appear in various forms, as were-snakes, shall we say?

Accordingly they returned to the Court, where the 288 were-wolf became an object of the greatest curiosity to all.

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