Were — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Meaning & Definition of Were

Were (verb)

to have life
to occupy a place or location
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes
to behave toward in a stated way

Were (conjunction)

at or during the time that
for the reason that
in spite of the fact that

Were (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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
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
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
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
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)

Were (conjunction) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

at or during the time that

"he slipped as he was walking to his car"

similar: so long as, when, while, whilst (chiefly British)

near: after
for the reason that

"had his meals delivered to him as he couldn't navigate the icy sidewalk with his walker"

similar: 'cause, as long as, because, being (as or as how or that) (chiefly dialect), considering, for, inasmuch as, now, seeing, since, whereas
in spite of the fact that

"silly as it sounds, that's exactly the way that it happened"

similar: albeit, although, howbeit, much as, notwithstanding, though, when, whereas, while, whilst (chiefly British)

related: but, if
the way it would be or one would do if

"his face looked as he'd gotten a terrible shock"

similar: as if, as though, like

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Were

The most common words with a similar meaning to Were:

Slang: go down

Chiefly British: whilst

Chiefly dialect: being (as or as how or that)

breathe, exist, live, subsist, bear, lie, sit, stand, grade, place, rank, rate, befall, betide, chance, come, come about, come down, come off, cook, do, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, transpire, come to pass, act (toward), deal (with), handle, serve, treat, use, do by, so long as, when, while, 'cause, as long as

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Were

Words with the opposite meaning of Were:

depart, die, expire, pass away, perish, succumb

Related Words for Were

abide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep (on), kick, last, lead, persist, rule, run on, survive, move, flourish, prosper, thrive, command, overlook, hang around, remain, rest, stay, stick around, tarry, await, wait, post, station, dwell

Near Antonyms of Were

disappear, evaporate, vanish, cease, desist, discontinue, end, quit, stop, abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane, after

Origin & Etymology of Were

Middle English were (suppletive singular past subjunctive & 2nd singular past indicative of been to be), weren (suppletive past plural of been), from Old English wǣre (singular past subjunctive & 2nd singular past indicative of wesan to be), wǣron (past plural indicative of wesan), wǣren (past plural subjunctive of wesan) was

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Were

Topics: Grammar Function Words

Words & Phrases Containing Were

as it were, if it were not for, if I were (someone), if I were you, those were the days

Frequently Asked Questions about Were

What does "Were" mean?

"Were" means to have life. As an a verb and a conjunction, it is defined as: to have life. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Were"?

Other words for "Were" include breathe, exist, live, subsist, bear, lie, sit and stand. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Were" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Were"?

There are 130 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Were". Common alternatives include breathe, exist, live, subsist, bear, lie, sit, stand, grade and place.

What is the opposite of "Were"?

Antonyms of "Were" include depart, die, expire, pass away, perish and succumb. Near antonyms include disappear, evaporate, vanish and cease.

How do you use "Were" in a sentence?

Examples of "Were" 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 "Were" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Were" can be used as a verb and a conjunction, depending on the context.

What is the origin of the word "Were"?

"Were" comes from Middle English were (suppletive singular past subjunctive & 2nd singular past indicative of been to be), weren (suppletive past plural of been), from Old English wǣre (singular past subjunctive & 2nd singular past indicative of wesan to be), wǣron (past plural indicative of wesan), wǣren (past plural subjunctive of wesan) was.

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

When "Were" (verb) means to have life, synonyms include breathe, exist, live and subsist. Opposites in this sense include depart, die, expire and pass away.