used to be
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.
Ecologist Charlotte Burgoine asked anyone with information on recent or historical sightings, or knowledge about areas in which eels used to be seen, to share it with the Nature Commission.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
“I used to be able to walk barefoot from here to my house,” he said, his truck kicking up dust on a road a few miles from his home.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
The region concerned used to be part of the former Malay-Muslim Patani sultanate but was annexed in the early 1900s by Buddhist-majority Thailand -- then Siam -- following an agreement with colonial power Britain.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
When you’re looking at a thread of social media bots sharing the same five replies to AI-generated slapfights between anthropomorphic fruits, it can be hard to remember the internet used to be a lively place.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
I can set it back on the same spot where its outline is still visible, but I can’t turn Jonah and me back into the people we used to be.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
