we

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Two or more people including or consisting of the speaker(s)/writer(s).

   • We are here to arrest you.
   • It’s time to overcome queasiness and restraint. We, the liberal and progressive people of the world, are at war with the far right to save the earth.
2. 2

   The institution which the speaker/writer is acting for. (This is the editorial we, used…

   The institution which the speaker/writer is acting for. (This is the editorial we, used by writers and others when speaking with the authority of their publication or organisation.)

   • We will in due course state our reasons for publishing the name of the accused.
   • As the government, we have a duty to ensure public safety.
   • In light of the promulgation of the aforementioned laws and decisions, we (the administration) propose to make the following amendments to local legislation to implement the relevant requirements on oath taking by public officers.
3. 3

   Any other entity that the speaker is a part of or identifies with, such as place of…

   Any other entity that the speaker is a part of or identifies with, such as place of employment or education, nation, region, language, etc.

   • I went to watch our school football match against Puddletown High. We lost 2-0.
   • In English, we do not inflect adjectives for gender.
4. ›+ 14 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      People in general.

      • We live and learn.
      • We still have much to learn about quantum mechanics.
      • As we age, the major arteries of our bodies frequently become thickened with plaque, a fatty material with an oatmeal-like consistency that builds up along the inner lining of blood vessels.
   2. 5

      The sovereign alone in his or her capacity as monarch. (This is the royal we. The…

      The sovereign alone in his or her capacity as monarch. (This is the royal we. The reflexive case of this sense of we is ourself.)

      • We are Queen of all these Isles.
   3. 6

      Everyone being addressed.

      • Good evening everyone. How are we all tonight?
   4. 7

      An individual being addressed

      An individual being addressed; used especially to a person in the speaker's care, or to whom advice or instruction is being given. (Sometimes called the nurse's we or the doctor's we.)

      • Hello Mrs Miggins. How are we feeling this morning?
      • You've been spending all your money boozing when you have a wife and family to support. I think we need to get our priorities straight.
      • “Well, my dear ma’am, and how are we?” inquired Wosky in a soothing tone. / “Very ill, doctor—very ill,” said Mrs. Bloss in a whisper.
   5. 8

      Used to refer to a third person, especially someone in the speaker's care.

      • "I've just been to see Mrs Miggins." — "And how is she?" — "I'm afraid we aren't too good today."
   6. 9

      Used to connect to or include readers or listeners.

      • Hey guys, in this video I'll show you how I make my upside-down sponge cake. First we take 200 g of butter and we whisk in 200 g of sugar. Next, we ...
      • All Vice President [Mike] Pence has to do is send it back to the states to recertify and we become president and you are the happiest people.
      • [Today is] not a day to think about fishing so we will get back to working on the shelter. [cut in video] Cool, so I guess the best analogy for this, then, is that we've basically framed the house, and now we get to shingle.
   7. 10

      Used when talking to oneself to refer to oneself.

      • Now then ... let me see ... I hope I'm doing this right ... if we just connect these two wires together ...
   8. 11

      Us.

   9. 12

      The side which is keeping score.

   10. 13

       Designates the speaker(s)/writer(s) as belonging to or constituting the stated category…

       Designates the speaker(s)/writer(s) as belonging to or constituting the stated category of people.

       • We Canadians like to think of ourselves as different.
       • We the undersigned wish to express our disapproval.
   11. 14

       us

       • He was a propa gadgie, and always bought we drinks after a long shift.
       • And what have you done for we since? Nowt!
   12. 15

       Initialism of Western Europe.

   13. 16

       Initialism of war establishment.

   14. 17

       Honorific alternative letter-case form of of we, sometimes used when speaking as an…

       Honorific alternative letter-case form of of we, sometimes used when speaking as an important figure or figures.

The neighborhood