Collocations for "was"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "was" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
be
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- am [angry, sad, happy, tired, excited]
- am [late, on time]
- am (very) [pleased, proud, impressed, interested]
- am at [home, school, work, the store]
- am going [home, to school]
- am [reading, thinking, studying]
- is [closed, open, closing, opening]
- is [a member, the president, an organizer]
- is (not) [responsible, trustworthy, reliable]
- is [here, at the school, in the park]
- is [15 years old]
- am a [firefighter, lawyer, doctor]
- [I am, I'm] (not) sorry
- is [blue, soft, fragile]
- am ready to [go, be, have]
- am [right, wrong, unconvinced, sure]
- is [hot, cold]
- is [done, finished, over]
- it is [raining, snowing, sunny, cloudy]
- is (not) [available, eligible]
- is [important, valuable, expensive]
- was [built, founded, constructed, born, created] in [1950]
- is [rich, poor, old]
- is [dreaming, sleeping, awake]
- be [nice, kind, good, responsible, realistic]
- don't be [silly, ridiculous, mean, so hard on yourself]
'was' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
AD
- AIDS
- August
- Australia
- Belgium
- Britain
- Canada
- China
- Dutch
- England
- Europe
- European
- France
- German
- Germany
- Greece
- Greek
- I
- ID
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- January
- Japan
- Jewish
- July
- Lebanon
- London
- Lord
- Moor
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- North
- OK
- Portuguese
- Saturday
- Sir
- Spain
- Spanish
- Sunday
- Sweden
- Swedish
- Swiss
- Switzerland
- Thanksgiving
- Thursday
- US
- Wales
- Welsh
- a shell