were

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
  2. verb be identical to; be someone or something
  3. verb occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English were, weren, from Old English wǣre, wǣron, wǣren, from Proto-West Germanic *wāʀun, *wāʀīn, from Proto-Germanic *wēzun, *wēzīn, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wes-. More at was.

Synonyms

be

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