Synonyms of was

was

verb

past tense of be

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

• lived
• existed
• ruled
• breathed
• continued
• survived
• subsisted
• flourished
• led
• persisted
• lasted
• kicked
• kept (on)
• endured
• held on
• moved
• ran on
• held up
• prospered
• abided
• thrived

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• died
• departed
• disappeared
• expired
• passed away
• perished
• ended
• succumbed
• stopped
• vanished
• evaporated
• ceased
• discontinued
• quit
• died (down)
• subsided
• waned
• abated
• moderated
• desisted
• ebbed
• let up

2

as in stood

to occupy a place or location

we'll be there waiting for you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stood
• sat
• remained
• bore
• lay
• resided
• stayed
• waited
• rested
• stationed
• awaited
• posted
• overlooked
• commanded
• hung around
• stuck around
• dwelled
• tarried

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

• ranked
• placed
• stood
• rated
• graded
• seeded
• counted
• classed
• classified
• grouped
• installed
• categorized
• separated
• sorted
• set
• codified
• instated
• compartmentalized

4

as in happened

to take place

the party is next Saturday

Synonyms & Similar Words

• happened
• came
• occurred
• did
• cooked
• came about
• transpired
• passed
• came down
• went on
• chanced
• befell
• went down
• came to pass
• came off
• happed
• developed
• betided
• resulted
• rose
• arose
• proceeded
• materialized
• came up
• intervened
• followed
• shaped (up)
• turned out
• cropped (up)
• sprang (up)
• broke
• fell out
• went off

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of was

There was, however, criticism of the deal among legal and immigrant advocates. — Alan Gionet, CBS News, 14 July 2026

There was no immediate word from the Jazz on Alexander's injury. — ABC News, 14 July 2026

There was more talk of hitting a provisional, but Spieth refused. — Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Super Shoulder Bags Shoulder bags are traditionally quite small, able to hold just a few belongings, but there was a fresh crop of styles at the shows, scaled up ever-so-slightly. — Alice Cary, Vogue, 13 July 2026

For weeks, there was speculation that ICE might begin relocating people from Camp East Montana to the new warehouses. — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

There was a casual feel in Memorial Auditorium in the hour before game time, as children kicked a ball around on the auditorium’s sloping floor. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026

There was the majestic no-doubter that landed more than halfway up the left-field bleachers, a majestic blast that evoked memories of Andrés Galarraga. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

Investigators said there was no evidence that the shootings were related. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026