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.

“Divorced at 36. Yea, you’re not here to waste time. The way you build your days matter,” the AI voice told her after Lansley replied she was looking for a serious relationship.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2026

Some of us who weren’t born yesterday remember that it was just eight years ago when the same thing happened.

From Salon • Jun. 28, 2026

"The festival was on the cusp of being its original free-form, free-for-all, mad, chaotic environment to becoming considered a world-class music festival."

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026

Half of respondents who said they were not vacationing this summer said cost was the reason.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2026

The violent conflict in Cuba created substantial economic and political instability, which captured the attention of the American government because Cuba was only ninety miles from the coast of Florida.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly