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.

The healthcare industry was “basically the only sector driving any job growth across the labor market in the United States” over the past year, Puri said, partly because of the country’s aging population.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

Coronado’s expedition was unable to find the Seven Cities of Gold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Microsoft first invested in the company in 2019 and was its exclusive partner in several areas, though its latest agreement relaxed their relationship.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

“Scarborn” was, in fact, directed by the Polish Pawel Maślona and written by Michał A. Zieliński and finds structural soundness in having two heroes of such different, complementing dispositions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

It was nice to hear her nickname in Cherokee.

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