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.

Sturgeon told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "I reject completely the notion that people were trying to alert the party to the kind of behaviour that Peter pled guilty to on Monday."

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

The BBC understands Lord Mandelson doesn't believe there were any security concerns, wasn't asked to do anything to deal with any and there has been a muddling of key details relating to these claims.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

On Sunday, there was a ceremony for a group of four nurses who were discharged from a hospital in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, the epicentre of the outbreak.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

She has recently claimed concerns were not listened to by party leaders.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

They were real, like stories of the Memekwesewak.

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