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

“We are heartbroken that we have lost the phenomenal, determined and truly inspiring Theo to this devastating disease,” Dan Knowles, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

"The times have passed when we used to say that Armenian products were uncompetitive in Europe," Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan told lawmakers.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

“But what surprised us was that we saw that Odora was opening just a few hours after.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

"The wellbeing of our viewers is our top priority, and we work with experts including the NHS, Mind and the Mix to refine our approach to mental health," a YouTube spokeswoman said.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

But when they push off the coast with the Japanese Navy, they can’t help but wonder: Where are we going?

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

“But what surprised us was that we saw that Odora was opening just a few hours after.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

"For a long time we were chasing only volumes, quantity -- after all, Russia was an inexhaustible market for us."

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

“He’s a very important player for us and he’s a very intelligent guy. But he’s 19 years old and we have to calm him down at certain moments of the game.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

"Nico Jackson is joining the tour in Asia and we are looking forward to him working with us," said Alonso.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

“Yes. She misses us and wanted to come at the last minute, to celebrate our birthday,” I reply as the rain outside shouts louder as if to drown out my lies.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

“But at the same time, we hear from our community that they feel much stronger economical pressure, and we want to make sure we are delivering on price.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

“During a time when our community was meant to come together to help those in need, Langham Hotels Pacific Corporation profited from other people’s tragedies.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

So, it feels kind of appropriate that our interview is happening virtually.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

"We're doing something very dramatic and very important for the people of Utah and the people of our country," said Trump.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

“Ladies, perhaps some decorum on this fine Tuesday morning?” our music theory teacher scolds us as she walks by.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

"Their spirit was high, and ours is high as we welcome them."

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

"Although reportedly carrying a dummy warhead, no nation understands the weight of nuclear testing in Pacific waters better than ours," the statement added.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

Ellis' granddaughter Laura Enston welcomed the news and said: "The shadow of Ruth's execution has fallen across two generations. We have carried shame that was never ours to bear."

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

The Washington monument is both architecture and sculpture, a powerful symbol with layered meanings for different generations from Washington’s time to ours.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

The room was identical to ours, but I lingered to watch the old man unpack.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

we

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words