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“Were” or “Whir”

Overview

were / whir are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

were: (verb) have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun). (verb) be identical to; be someone or something. (verb) occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere. (verb) happen, occur, take place. (verb) work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function. (verb) spend or use time. (verb) have life, be alive. (verb) to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form.

whir: (noun) sound of something in rapid motion.

Pronunciation

were: w·er

whir: NA

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Examples in Context

Examples of “were”

  • Républíque Démocratique du Congo (MLAZ/FURNAC), were reported to cooperate with the
  • members of the All-Century Team were revealed.
  • a soldier, while three soldiers were injured.
  • group or as individual groups, were not party to the 1999
  • and Masisi north of Goma were the centres of Mai-Mai activity
  • Six Virunga Park Rangers were reported to have been killed
  • Both albums were released on Rideau Rouge Records
  • report, 20,000 to 30,000 Mai-Mai were active in the two Kivu
  • Mai-Mai groups in the Kivus were led by Generals Padiri and
  • Mai-Mai were particularly active in the eastern

Examples of “whir”

  • and perceive there is a whir of information processing, but there


(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)


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