was (to)

verb

Definition of was (to)next
past tense of be (to)
as in treated
to behave toward in a stated way you need to be nice to your brother

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for was (to)
  1. treated
  2. served
  3. handled
Verb
  • To shed light on these advancements, our NBC News colleague Sue Kroll opened up about her journey getting tested and treated for early signs of Alzheimer’s in her 50s.
    — Josephine Murphy, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Communication usually appears somewhere on the list, but it’s often treated as a secondary skill—something that helps leaders express their ideas rather than something that shapes leadership itself.
    — Julien Fortuit, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of treated
Verb
  • Listyo previously served as national police chief after being appointed by then-President Joko Widodo in 2021.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2026
  • While not a doctor, Xavier Becerra, who served as health secretary in the Biden administration, cruised in his race to become California governor.
    — Sarah Todd, STAT, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of served
Verb
  • Pando has since handled more than 57 terabytes of Git packfiles in a single hour.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Tia, on her end, handled the ambush skillfully, parrying jabs without raising her voice to prevent Wendy from having any opening to feign victimization.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of handled
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

wasting (away)
was (to)
wastrel
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Was (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/was%20%28to%29. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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