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

"It's exciting that we discovered a thin stellar stream around a galaxy other than our own with already-existing Hubble Space Telescope data and confirmed it with ground-based telescope data," Starkenburg said.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

“In Mexico,” Venegas said, “when you’re eating we say, ‘Buen provecho,’ which is like ‘Enjoy your food,’ No matter who it is, no matter who you’re walking by.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

"This problem obviously does not only affect Feyenoord and is unfortunately something we have been unable to put a stop to for decades," Eenhoorn said.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

"Our study suggests there may be different biological pathways between long and short sleepers that lead to the same outcome, late-life depression, and we shouldn't treat them the same way."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

Aunt J looks at Arlo and me, as if to ask why we didn’t give her a heads-up.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Wen says, "The broad brain-body pattern is important because it tells us that sleep duration is a deeply embedded part of our entire physiology, with far-reaching implications across the body."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

Venegas scrolled through his phone while Penna shuffled past us to grab a drink from the office fridge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

"It has been an interesting ride, that's for sure, everything we've gone through, and the tough moments we've had. It's made us stronger," said DeChambeau.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

"As a public broadcaster, we remain committed to our values. They guide us in everything we do, even when that means stepping away from an event that is very close to our hearts," he added.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

But now, the color has seeped out of Davey and left us with a canvas of gray on gray: gray, brooding clouds hanging from gray, murky skies.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Wen says, "The broad brain-body pattern is important because it tells us that sleep duration is a deeply embedded part of our entire physiology, with far-reaching implications across the body."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

She added: "We initially had to play inside in darkness with the curtains closed before getting the UV-resistant film on our windows."

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

“We feel a strong sense of responsibility that comes with our unique position in global trade and will work diligently to build a trustworthy platform that consumers can rely on over the long run.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026

McHale’s actual wedding was earlier this month in Newport, Rhode Island—the same week my fiancé and I were there trying to escape our own wedding-planning stresses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

“You did good, Will. Without Belle, our journey—everything I hoped for”—Father swallows—“would’ve been lost.”

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

"Only studies like ours offer an overview of these traditions which bear witness to genuine know-how and diverse traditions."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

I have four kids — two are mine and two are my wife’s — but they are all ours in every meaningful sense.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

The bakery said: "Every shop that reopens means jobs restored, a unit back in use and footfall returning to the high street, which we believe serves everyone's interests: ours, theirs and the wider local economy's."

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Salzburg’s worries are our worries; its triumphs can be ours as well.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

I hope they find their way home, like we found ours.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

we

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words