we

usouroursourselvesourself

1. 1.

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

2. 2.

   (first person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun)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.

3. 3.

   (first person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun)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. 4.

   (first person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun)People in general.

   We live and learn.

   We still have much to learn about quantum mechanics.

5. 5.

   (first person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun)(royal) 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.

6. 6.

   (colloquial, first person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun)Everyone being addressed.

   Good evening everyone. How are we all tonight?

7. 7.

   (colloquial, first person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun)(colloquial; may sometimes seem patronising) 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.

8. 8.

   (colloquial, first person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun, uncommon)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."

9. 9.

   Used to connect to or include readers or listeners.

10. 10.

    (colloquial, first person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun)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 ...

11. 11.

    (West Country, archaic, first person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun)Us.

12. 12.

    (first person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun)(bridge) The side which is keeping score.

1. 1.

   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.