was

Pronunciation

stressed

• (UK) enPR: wŏz, IPA ^(key): /wɒz/, SAMPA: /wQz/
• (US) enPR: wŭz, IPA ^(key): /wʌz/, SAMPA: /wVz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

unstressed

• enPR: wəz
• IPA ^(key): /wəz/
• SAMPA: /w@z/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

  (in the phrase "I was there")

Verb

Plain form be

Simple present am, is, are

Simple past was, were

Past participle been

Present participle being

1. (auxiliary) (linking) A form of the verb be used to talk about yourself, or another person in the past.

   I was singing in the shower.

   Who was that girl you were talking to?