were
Were (verb) means past tense of "be," used with "you," "we," "they," or plural subjects. Example: “They were late for the train.”
verb
1
Past tense of "be," used with "you," "we," "they," or plural subjects.
"They were late for the train."
"If I were you, I'd take the offer."
"We were walking home when the rain started."
How to use were
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past-tense form of "be" used with plural subjects or "you."
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "we're" (we are) or "weir" (a small dam) — all three sound alike.
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Word forms
- Plural
- weres
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They _____ late for the train.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English were, wer, see wer.
Rhymes for were
See all rhymes for were →Frequently asked questions
What does “were” mean?
The word “were” means past tense of "be," used with "you," "we," "they," or plural subjects. In plain terms, the past-tense form of "be" used with plural subjects or "you.".
How do you use “were” in a sentence?
Here is “were” used in a sentence: “They were late for the train.”
What part of speech is “were”?
“Were” is a verb.
Is “were” a common word?
“Were” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between "was" and "were"?
Both are past forms of "be": "was" goes with "I," "he," "she," and "it," while "were" goes with "you," "we," "they," and plural subjects. "Were" is also used for all subjects in hypothetical statements like "if I were you".
Why do we say "if I were you"?
This is the subjunctive use of "were," which marks situations that are imaginary or contrary to fact: "If I were you," "if she were taller." It applies to every subject, which is why "were" appears even after "I" and "she".
What is the difference between "were", "we're", and "where"?
"Were" is a past tense of "be" ("they were late"), "we're" is a contraction of "we are," and "where" asks about or refers to a place. They are close enough in sound and spelling to be common mix-ups in writing.
Is "you were" correct for just one person?
Yes. "You" always takes "were," whether it refers to one person or several: "You were right." "You was" is heard in some dialects but is nonstandard in writing.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing were in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
After a Canadian theme park shuttered its doors, the beluga whales it housed were at risk of being euthanized.
From
CBS News · Jul 25, 2026
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