1
as in lived
to have life
stories that begin with the familiar line "once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in ranked
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes
our school's football team is first in its division
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in happened
to take place
the party is next Saturday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of was
With the Iran war in its fifth week, attacks in the Middle East continued and there was still no clear end to the war.
—
ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
There was consensus on protecting the victims.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
While the misdemeanor child molestation count was vacated because of the issue involving the girl’s testimony, the appellate panel said there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction and that Lopez could be retried on that count.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
At the time of our stay, the kitchen was being refurbished, so there was no room service.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
But there was no finger pointing, no blame passed.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
All 24 crew members are safe and uninjured, according to Dubai authorities and there was no oil leak.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
There was a shift in tempo, as if the day was beginning rather than ending.
—Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said there was nothing to limit states from counting ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive later.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
There was consensus on protecting the victims.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
While the misdemeanor child molestation count was vacated because of the issue involving the girl’s testimony, the appellate panel said there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction and that Lopez could be retried on that count.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
At the time of our stay, the kitchen was being refurbished, so there was no room service.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
But there was no finger pointing, no blame passed.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
All 24 crew members are safe and uninjured, according to Dubai authorities and there was no oil leak.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
There was a shift in tempo, as if the day was beginning rather than ending.
—Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said there was nothing to limit states from counting ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive later.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for was
Verb
-
Ames said her family left their home right after the tests and lived with extended family for two months while their house was remediated.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Rabell lived with her niece in Nashville for several months in 2018.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At a Tuesday afternoon news conference in Sacramento City Hall, the mother and daughter stood beside their attorney, immigration advocates and local lawmakers — many of whom were involved in a weeks-long effort to bring her home.—
Mathew Miranda
Updated March 31,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
While chatting during a recent visit, my niece stood next to a chair and put one foot on the seat.—
Jacobina Martin,
Washington Post,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Site Selection Magazine just ranked Illinois as the best state in the Midwest, and third nationally, for workforce development because of critical investments in higher education, apprenticeships and skill development.—
Mark Denzler,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Here are all nine official version of the ultimate Raging Bull ranked.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The most recent deadly chase happened in Pomona on Wednesday night.—
Tom Wait,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Hernandez said he was encouraged by recent meetings with Republican members of Congress from his home state, Florida, but worries other priorities will drown out the bill, as has happened in the past.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
By measuring levels of radiocarbon — a naturally occurring form of carbon that changes over time — the team could calculate how long the protein, and the shark, had existed.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But Norway and roof rats have existed outside state code for the simple reason that they weren’t known to be in the state.—
Mark Dee
March 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Levi Jones, a 33-year-old business owner, pulled up to Sacred Eye Tattoos in Hollywood last week and sat for eight hours getting a photorealistic black-and-white portrait of Mangione on his leg.—
Amanda Rosa,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
-
The birthday boy and his big sister Sterling Skye, 3, each sat between one of their parents’ laps.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The next night, Weathermen placed plastic coffee cups filled with black powder under the hoods of police squad cars across Chicago.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Quintal, who was transported to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries along with Wilson, was placed on workers’ comp leave.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That came just a few days after news broke that Palantir had secured a $10 billion contract from the US Army over the next decade.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
-
All five of Bednar’s outs came via strikeout on Wednesday.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Was.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/was. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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