was

American  

[wuhz, woz, wuhz] / wʌz, wɒz, wəz /

verb

1. first and third person singular past indicative of be.

---

was British  

/ wɒz, wəz /

verb

1. the past tense (indicative mood) of be 1

2. not_standard a form of the subjunctive mood used in place of were, esp in conditional sentences

   if the film was to be with you, would you be able to process it?

---

Etymology

Origin of was

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English wæs, past tense singular of wesan “to be”; cognate with Old Frisian, Old High German, Gothic was, Old Norse var; cf. wassail

Example Sentences

Annual wage growth, excluding bonuses, was 3.6%, compared with 3.5% in the previous period.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

“We were gassed the first time because that was right after we played Loyola,” Mustangs setter Jake Newman said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Harriet White, who farms near Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, said her family was also reconsidering every penny they spend, including their young son's nursery fees.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

AB Foods ABF 0.48%increase; green up pointing triangle said in November that it was considering a separation of the units.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

As soon as she was ready, Maggie drug her out to stand in front of another Osage family’s cornfield so she could shoot a few portraits.

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