Was — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb

Meaning & Definition of Was

Was (verb)

  1. to have life
  2. to occupy a place or location
  3. to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes

Was (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have life

    "stories that begin with the familiar line once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden"

    similar: breathed, existed, lived, subsisted
    related: abided, continued, endured, held on, held up, kept (on), kicked, lasted, led, persisted, ran on, ruled, survived, moved, flourished, prospered, thrived
    opposite: departed, died, expired, passed away, perished, succumbed
    near: disappeared, evaporated, vanished, ceased, desisted, discontinued, ended, quit, stopped, abated, died (down), ebbed, let up, moderated, subsided, waned

  2. to occupy a place or location

    "we'll be there waiting for you"

    similar: bore, lay, sat, stood
    related: commanded, overlooked, hung around, remained, rested, stayed, stuck around, tarried, awaited, waited, posted, stationed, dwelled, resided

  3. to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes

    "our school's football team is first in its division"

    similar: graded, placed, ranked, rated, stood
    related: seeded, counted, categorized, classed, classified, codified, compartmentalized, grouped, separated, set, sorted, installed, instated

  4. to take place

    "the party is next Saturday"

    similar: befell, betided, came, came about, came down, came off, chanced, cooked, did, happed, happened, occurred, passed, transpired, went down (slang), went on, came to pass
    related: broke, developed, rose, shaped (up), arose, came up, cropped (up), materialized, sprang (up), intervened, fell out, followed, resulted, turned out, proceeded, went off

Related Entry: Be (verb)

Be is a different word from Was. The synonyms below are for be, not for was.

  1. to have life

    "stories that begin with the familiar line once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden"

    similar: breathe, exist, live, subsist
    related: abide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep (on), kick, last, lead, persist, rule, run on, survive, move, flourish, prosper, thrive
    opposite: depart, die, expire, pass away, perish, succumb
    near: disappear, evaporate, vanish, cease, desist, discontinue, end, quit, stop, abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane

  2. to occupy a place or location

    "we'll be there waiting for you"

    similar: bear, lie, sit, stand
    related: command, overlook, hang around, remain, rest, stay, stick around, tarry, await, wait, post, station, dwell, reside

  3. to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes

    "our school's football team is first in its division"

    similar: grade, place, rank, rate, stand
    related: seed, count, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartmentalize, group, separate, set, sort, install, instate

  4. to take place

    "the party is next Saturday"

    similar: befall, betide, chance, come, come about, come down, come off, cook, do, go down (slang), go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, transpire, come to pass
    related: break, develop, rise, shape (up), arise, come up, crop (up), materialize, spring (up), intervene, fall out, follow, result, turn out, go off, proceed

Related Entry: Be (to) (verb)

Be (to) is a different word from Was. The synonyms below are for be (to), not for was.

  1. to behave toward in a stated way

    "you need to be nice to your brother"

    similar: act (toward), deal (with), handle, serve, treat, use, do by
    related: consider, esteem, rate, reckon, regard, view, engage (with), react (to), respond (to)

Related Entry: Was friends with (phrase)

Was friends with is a different word from Was. The synonyms below are for was friends with, not for was.

  1. to come or be together as friends

    "If you could be friends with any famous person, past or present, who would you pick?"

    similar: associated, chummed, companied, consociated, consorted, fraternized, hobnobbed, hooked up, hung (around or out), messed around, palled (around), ran, sorted, traveled, fell in with, kept company (with), rubbed elbows (with), took up with
    related: affiliated, allied, attached, banded, bonded, clubbed, collaborated, colluded, confederated, conjoined, connected, cooperated, coupled, ganged, got along, got on, grouped, interrelated, joined, knotted, leagued, linked, mingled, mixed, rallied, related, sided, socialized, teamed, tied, wedded, befriended, friended
    near: avoided, cold-shouldered, shunned, snubbed, alienated, estranged, broke up, disbanded, dispersed, split (up), disjoined, dissociated, disunited, divorced, severed, split, sundered

Related Entry: Was on the lookout for (phrase)

Was on the lookout for is a different word from Was. The synonyms below are for was on the lookout for, not for was.

  1. to be cautious of or on guard against

    "After the storm, the police told the public to be on the lookout for downed power lines."

    "The public should remain vigilant and keep a lookout for any suspicious activity."

    similar: guarded (against), looked out (for), minded, wared, watched out (for), kept one's eyes open (for)
    related: attended, heeded, marked, noted, noticed, beheld, discerned, observed, perceived, saw, watched
    near: discounted, disregarded, ignored, missed, overlooked

Related Entry: Was out of breath (phrase)

Was out of breath is a different word from Was. The synonyms below are for was out of breath, not for was.

  1. to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty

    "They were out of breath after their five-mile run."

    similar: blew, gasped, heaved, hyperventilated, panted, puffed, wheezed
    related: choked, gagged, gulped, huffed, asphyxiated, smothered, stifled, strangled, snored, snuffled, exhaled, expired

Related Entry: Was partial to (phrase)

Was partial to is a different word from Was. The synonyms below are for was partial to, not for was.

  1. to show partiality toward

    "My girlfriend likes thrillers, but I myself am partial to comedies."

    similar: cared (for), favored, leaned (toward or towards), liked, preferred, went in for
    related: adored, cottoned (to), delighted (in), dug, enjoyed, fancied, grooved (on), relished, reveled (in), chose, culled, handpicked, named, picked, selected, singled (out), took, coveted, craved, desired, hankered (for or after), wanted, wished (for), biased, prejudiced, inclined (toward), tended (to), admired, appreciated, cherished, prized, treasured, valued
    near: disfavored, disliked, misliked, abhorred, abominated, detested, hated, loathed, declined, refused, rejected, turned down, discarded, jettisoned, threw away, threw out

  2. to take pleasure in

    "They are both partial to weekend camping trips."

    similar: adored, delighted (in), dug, enjoyed, fancied, got off (on), grooved (on), liked, loved, rejoiced (in), relished, reveled (in), savored, got a kick out of, had a soft spot for, took to, went for
    related: admired, appreciated, cherished, revered, venerated, worshipped, prized, treasured, valued, ate (up), devoured, drank (in), feasted (on), doted (on), idolized, cottoned (to), favored, preferred, indulged (in), luxuriated (in), wallowed (in)
    near: abhorred, abominated, detested, disliked, hated, loathed, condemned, despised, scorned

Related Entry: Be out of breath (phrase)

Be out of breath is a different word from Was. The synonyms below are for be out of breath, not for was.

  1. to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty

    "They were out of breath after their five-mile run."

    similar: blow, gasp, heave, hyperventilate, pant, puff, wheeze
    related: choke, gag, gulp, huff, asphyxiate, smother, stifle, strangle, snore, snuffle, exhale, expire

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Was

The most common words with a similar meaning to Was:

Slang: went down
breathed, existed, lived, subsisted, bore, lay, sat, stood, graded, placed, ranked, rated, befell, betided, came, came about, came down, came off, chanced, cooked, did, happed, happened, occurred, passed, transpired, went on, came to pass

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Was

Words with the opposite meaning of Was:

departed, died, expired, passed away, perished, succumbed

Related Words for Was

abided, continued, endured, held on, held up, kept (on), kicked, lasted, led, persisted, ran on, ruled, survived, moved, flourished, prospered, thrived, commanded, overlooked, hung around, remained, rested, stayed, stuck around, tarried, awaited, waited, posted, stationed, dwelled

Near Antonyms of Was

disappeared, evaporated, vanished, ceased, desisted, discontinued, ended, quit, stopped, abated, died (down), ebbed, let up, moderated, subsided, waned

Origin & Etymology of Was

Middle English, from Old English, wæs, 1st & 3rd singular past indicative of wesan to be; akin to Old Norse vera to be, var was, Sanskrit vasati he lives, dwells

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Was

  • Topics: Grammar Function Words

Words & Phrases Containing Was

as was, the rout was on, time was (when)

Frequently Asked Questions about Was

What does "Was" mean?

"Was" means to have life. As a verb, it is defined as: to have life. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Was"?

Other words for "Was" include breathed, existed, lived, subsisted, bore, lay, sat and stood. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Was" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Was"?

There are 89 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Was". Common alternatives include breathed, existed, lived, subsisted, bore, lay, sat, stood, graded and placed.

What is the opposite of "Was"?

Antonyms of "Was" include departed, died, expired, passed away, perished and succumbed. Near antonyms include disappeared, evaporated, vanished and ceased.

How do you use "Was" in a sentence?

Examples of "Was" in a sentence: "stories that begin with the familiar line once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden"; "we'll be there waiting for you"; "our school's football team is first in its division".

Is "Was" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Was" is a verb.

What is the origin of the word "Was"?

"Was" comes from Middle English, from Old English, wæs, 1st & 3rd singular past indicative of wesan to be; akin to Old Norse vera to be, var was, Sanskrit vasati he lives, dwells.

What is another word for "Was" meaning "to have life"?

When "Was" (verb) means to have life, synonyms include breathed, existed, lived and subsisted. Opposites in this sense include departed, died, expired and passed away.