were

[wur, wer, wair] / wɜr, wər, wɛər /

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.

She is expected to sign on with CNN competitor MS NOW, according to people familiar with her plans who were not authorized to comment publicly.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026

She told the coroner: "There were players I had more concerns about from a mental health or a coping point of view."

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

There were more than 70 undertakings that delivered annual income of about $1 million or more, ranging from golf clubs to legal settlements, and from crypto businesses to licensing deals.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026

Actually, legal-tender greenbacks were hatched in 1862; legislation the following year gave rise to a second currency, national bank notes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

When the Japanese military took control of all media in the Philippines, Filipinos lost access to objective news sources and were left only with propaganda.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly