Showing results for "were"

• an inflection of be.

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• 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.

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we're ² American  

[weer] / wɪər /

1. contraction of we are:

   We're happy to see you.

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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

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we're ² British  

/ wɪə /

contraction

1. we are

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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

The LAO found that the increase in spending stemmed from the growing cost of sustaining programs and services that were already in place when Newsom took office.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026

But those lessons were not learned against a physical, dogged and determined Paraguay side that defended deep and in numbers and frustrated Germany.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

There were tears of disbelief and unbridled joy as the unflappable Jose Canale smashed home Paraguay's penalty to complete one of the greatest World Cup upsets in recent memory.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

However, investors were unable to match their US colleagues, with Seoul's Kospi -- the best performing benchmark this year -- falling again, while Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Manila were also down.

From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026

In 1937—just four years before Joey’s diagnosis—lepers in the Chinese province of Guangdong were promised an allowance of ten cents.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly