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 no record of Monaco on the Pulaski County jail website Monday afternoon. — Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026

Brown’s name had surfaced publicly in those trade talks, and there was a point of no return. — Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Sanft asked jurors if there was any evidence that Davis had ever called the shots before or after the shooting. — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

On top of the moving-camera-foamy-dark-mouth challenge, there was the plaque challenge. — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026

Lamas claimed that Jackie believed that there was a link between her husband’s death and that of Marilyn Monroe, who died in 1962. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026

There was a time when some wondered about the fate of Marco Polo, too. — Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026

And there was never a set schedule for that one hour he would be let out and allowed to use the phone. — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026

There was no indication that Kharg Island had actually been attacked, and a senior Iranian oil official ridiculed the claim. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026