was

[wuhz, woz, wuhz] / wʌz, wɒz, wəz /

VERB

exist

Synonyms

STRONG

abide act breathe continue do endure hold inhabit last live move obtain persist prevail remain rest stand stay subsist survive

WEAK

be alive go on have being have place

Antonyms

STRONG

cease depart die discontinue forsake give up go halt idle leave lose pass quit refuse reject stop

VERB

happen

Synonyms

STRONG

befall occur transpire

WEAK

come about come to pass take place

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.

Graphic footage of starving children was broadcast into living rooms for the very first time.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

"It was a combination of outrage, confusion and, like, how could this even be happening?" he told AFP.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Monday’s private gauge followed an official gauge released Sunday that showed China’s manufacturing activity was unchanged in May, pressured by higher energy costs since the Middle East conflict began.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

No other information about the victim was available.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

Ask anyone and they’d tell you, because it was a fact.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith