Meaning of we | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Honorific alternative letter-case form of of we, sometimes used when speaking as an important figure or figures.
   alt-of, honorific
2. We, us.
3. Two or more people including or consisting of the speaker(s)/writer(s).
   first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
4. Excluding the person(s) being addressed. (This is the exclusive we.)
   first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
5. Including the person(s) being addressed. (This is the inclusive we.)
   first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
6. 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.)
   first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
7. Any other entity that the speaker is a part of or identifies with, such as place of employment or education, nation, region, language, etc.
   first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
8. People in general.
   first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
9. 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.)
   first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
10. Everyone being addressed.
    colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
11. 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.)
    colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
12. Used to refer to a third person, especially someone in the speaker's care.
    colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun, uncommon
13. Used to connect to or include readers or listeners.
    colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
14. Used to imply connection between the speaker's experiences or activities and a group of listeners. (Compare the plural of modesty.)
    colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
15. Used in explanatory or procedural writing, such as mathematical explanations, to imply inclusion of the reader in the undertaking.
    first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
16. Used when talking to oneself to refer to oneself.
    colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
17. Us.
    West-Country, archaic, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun
18. The side which is keeping score.
    first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

“We need⟳ to have⟳ a talk⟳, you and me.”

“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.”

“I went to watch⟳ our school football match⟳ against Puddletown High. We lost 2-0.”

“In English, we do not inflect adjectives for gender.”

“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.”

“We are Queen of all these Isles.”

“Good evening everyone. How are we all tonight?”

“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⟳.”

“Are we ready to go to bed, sweetie?”

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

“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.”

“The elephant in the room, you know⟳, we had a stroke back in May.”

“To solve⟳ the equation, we first collect⟳ all the terms in x on one side.”

“Now then ... let⟳ me see⟳ ... I hope⟳ I'm doing this right ... if we just connect⟳ these two wires together ...”

“He was a propa gadgie, and always bought we drinks after a long shift.”

He was a great guy, and always bought us drinks after a long shift.

“And what have⟳ you done for we since? Nowt!”

And what have you done for us since? Nothing!

““It seems to me that we are losing sight of the fact that we are artists,” said Miss⟳ Madder to Mr. Ehrlebach one evening about a week later, during one of his calls. / “We, with a capital ‘W,’” laughed Miss⟳ Larkin, mimicking Rose’s conscious air. / “Well, Mr. Ehrlebach is, anyway, and he ought to be doing some grave artistic studying.””

“Yet when Diaz talks one would think⟳ he had never achieved anything. He never uses the first pronoun singular, always speaking as “we,” but not the “we” with a capital W habitual to Royalty; just simply we, meaning others in preference to himself. That is why it has been so difficult to draw⟳ his picture, to show⟳ the modesty lying behind his giant strength.”

“But meanwhile, We say⟳ frankly that so far We do not have⟳ sufficient reason⟳ to regard the norms given by Pope Pius XII in this matter⟳ as surpassed and therefore not binding; they must therefore be considered valid, at least until we feel⟳ in conscience bound to modify⟳ them.”

“It may be well to begin⟳ by introducing each other. Who are We? You are not, perhaps led astray by the opinion held of Us by certain contemporaries; We are a weak and little man like⟳ other men, perhaps more so than other men. Have⟳ under standing^([sic]) for Our personal littleness. But We make⟳ so bold as to présent^([sic]) Ourself to you under a twofold title: one title is Our own⟳—it is the great love⟳ We have⟳ for Africa, for you, and for the Peoples you gövern^([sic]) and represent⟳; the other title is not Our own⟳—it was conferred upon Us, and it makes Us humble and bold as We come⟳ among you: you know⟳ it well, it is the title of Pope, which means Father; and We inherited it from Saint Peter, whose unworthy but authentic successor We are.”

““You mean⟳ it was luck?” replied Jason. / “Well…in a way,” replied Berger. “It really means more than that. In a sense⟳, We with a capital “W” are favoring your undertakings. We are watching over all. God sees all. We see⟳ all.””

““I too love⟳ it,” said Eddie. “Y’gotta be very delicate with cancer patients, and the ‘we’ works like⟳ a charm.” He seemed sincere. Naidoo looked worried. “I see⟳ the ‘we’ with a capital ‘W,’ the royal ‘We.’ My cancer patients can’t argue⟳ with King Eddie—””

CEFR level