we

[wee] / wi /

PRONOUN

nominative plural pronoun

Synonyms

STRONGEST

they you

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a synonym for we?

We don’t traditionally think of we as having synonyms, but there are several situations in which it can replace—or be replaced with—another word, phrase, or series of words. _____ and I We’s main job is to serve as a way of not having to name every person in a group of two or more people. Sometimes, though, it’s best to be clear by naming them. Instead of saying We walked home together, you could say Emily, Dave, and I walked home together. all of us The phrase all of us can replace we as the subject of the sentence in some situations. This phrasing is often used to emphasize the entirety of the group that’s present, as in All of us wanted to be here to say goodbye. us Sometimes, you can reword a sentence that uses the object form us to instead use the subject form we, or vice versa. For example, instead of saying Luckily, we weren’t affected by the storm, you could say Luckily, the storm didn’t affect us. ourselves In some cases, the word ourselves is used as another way of saying we. For example, it’s common to say things like We should think for ourselves. Ourselves is also sometimes used in place of we after the words as, than, and but, as in children no older than ourselves. we ourselves Sometimes, you might use the phrase we ourselves to emphasize that something was done by the group that you’re part of as opposed to others. For example, saying We cast the deciding votes may be a neutral statement, but saying We ourselves cast the deciding votes indicates that there was some significance to the fact that it was your group who did it. you We is sometimes used in place of you in a way that’s sometimes intended to be more polite, such as when giving someone an assignment, as in We should do that by Friday. It can also be used in place of you in a way that’s condescending or sarcastic, as in We don’t want to be too hasty, do we? the royal we The word we is famously used in some cases by sovereign rulers as a formal way of saying I, as if they are speaking for the entire nation. Some people use the royal we to be funny. the editorial we This is the we that we editors use when we’re speaking in a general voice, especially as a way to avoid I, which is often seen as too personal (especially when the writer’s voice, opinion, or identity is not relevant). This is often similar in function to general use of you and one. (For an example, see the very first sentence in this section.)

What can you use instead of the word we?

In cases when you want to avoid speaking for a group, you can just say I. There are ways that you can acknowledge part of the group but not all of it. For example, you could say something like I believe—as many of us do—that this is a good idea.

What kind of pronoun is we?

We is a personal pronoun. Pronouns are used as substitutes for nouns—they’re another way of referring to a noun without using a specific name. Personal pronouns are used to refer to the speaker (first person), to the person being addressed (second person), or the person being talked about (third person). We is categorized as a first person pronoun because it refers to the group of people who are speaking or writing—addressing others.

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.

See Examples For:

we us our ours

"If we don't get one fish, we try another. We survive by mixing everything," she said, dangling two freshly caught guitarfish from her hands.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Whether or not you’re excited about the more-playful versions taking hold, surely we can agree they beat doing trust falls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

“This is about what we can do in our state to make life better for Californians.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

"As long as we see these attractive opportunities to invest, we will continue to invest."

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Today we are used to seeing the microscopic world, but when the microscope was invented in the middle of the seventeenth century, it caused a sensation.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

"Let the United States send dairy products. I don't think any of us will buy it," wrote Mark Knudsen from Mississauga.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

As far as Golding is concerned, consciousness is the faculty that allows us to reflect and create—and to deceive ourselves with extraordinary effectiveness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

That brings us to the pending changes in the PCE index.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

Marshall said: "It will be an absolute privilege to lead this team out with Sarah, and I know every single one of us will give everything to bring success home for Team Scotland."

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Because Caesar defended us, he angered the ex-soldier.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

“We’ll be the first, to our knowledge, to bring that as the fan experience of an American baseball team.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

"We continue to expect our capex to increase significantly in 2027, and will provide more details at a later date."

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

Now, they want to conquer our closets, too.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

"We really need to do our little bit to protect them."

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

“Land rush means we have a chance to claim our own acres. Our own home. Not beholden, owing nobody.”

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Dogs in art, Mr. Laqueur suggests, “bring their world into ours, which is perhaps how they make us feel less lonely as a species.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Ideally, I need to get to $250,000 to buy a modest apartment so my kid can have a place that is ours and has no debt associated with it.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

Last week, at an event in Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson reminded the audience of one of John Quincy Adams’ favorite lines: “Duty is ours; results are God’s.”

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026

"We know everyone in this city, this city is ours," he boasted to a contact in a recording shared with the BBC.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

We knew Germany’s military was stronger than ours.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

we

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words