Jump To:

• were
  were

  verb

  a second person singular past indicative; first, second, and third person plural past indicative; and past subjunctive of be.
• we're
  we're

  contraction of we are:

were

¹ American  

[wur, wer, wair] / wɜr, wər, wɛər /

verb

1. a second person singular past indicative; first, second, and third person plural past indicative; and past subjunctive of be.

---

we're ² American  

[weer] / wɪər /

1. contraction of we are:

   We're happy to see you.

---

were ¹ British  

/ wɜː, wə /

verb

1. the plural form of the past tense (indicative mood) of be and the singular form used with you. It is also used as a subjunctive, esp in conditional sentences

---

we're ² British  

/ wɪə /

contraction

1. we are

---

Grammar

See subjunctive.

Usage

See contraction.

Were, as a remnant of the past subjunctive in English, is used in formal contexts in clauses expressing hypotheses ( if he were to die, she would inherit everything ), suppositions contrary to fact ( if I were you, I would be careful ), and desire ( I wish he were there now ). In informal speech, however, was is often used instead

Etymology

Origin of were

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English wǣre past subjunctive, wǣre 2nd-person singular past and wǣron 2nd-person plural past of wesan “to be”; cognate with Dutch, German waren, Danish var. See was

Example Sentences

Amid worries of the environmental impact, there’s “the relief of seeing somebody out there, just a normal person wearing a homemade T-shirt, saying, ‘Hey, we’re here.

From Salon • Jul. 9, 2026

So, it looks like we’re paying less of the tab, but in absolute dollars, taxpayers are paying far more than ever, because the stadiums cost so much more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026

Shah said a levy "would solve a lot of problems for us, and we're certainly open to it", but admitted it "could be seen as, and is effectively another tax".

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

“We’ve reached the point with Bucknell where we do not feel that we’re going to get that. The only path for us to get that truth is to file the civil lawsuit.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026

He’s taller than me, so we’re at eye level now.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold