- an inflection of be.
were
1 Americanverb
verb
contraction
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.