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.

Rubio said both were no longer in the United States.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

A year ago today, Liverpool fans were still basking in the glow of a Merseyside derby win that took them to the brink of the Premier League title.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

But steps were taken to try to limit the long-term consequences for civilians.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

“We are forcing the fish to be in places where they never were historically,” said Carson Jeffres, a senior researcher at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

There were photos, notes, library books, your best friend Shana’s borrowed sweater, that one beaded earring.

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