we were engaged

USAGE SUMMARY

"we were engaged" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a past moment when you and another person were involved in a specific activity or situation. Example: "We were engaged in a heated debate about politics last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We were engaged on April Fool's Day and broke the engagement on Halloween.

The New York Times - Sports

"We were engaged".

The New York Times - Sports

Six months later, we were engaged.

The New York Times - Science

By this point we were engaged.

The Guardian - Opinion

Three months later we were engaged.

The New York Times

"We were engaged in a game of cat and mouse".

The New York Times

Robert: We were engaged the summer after moving in together.

The New York Times

We wanted to stretch out the time we were engaged.

The New York Times

"Our day-to-day existence goes along the same way as when we were engaged.

The New York Times - Sports

"We were engaged, but it didn't work out," Mr. Daly said.

The New York Times - Style

This was when we were engaged in research-like activity with other students and with staff.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were engaged", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to a past engagement or involvement in an activity. Clarity prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "we were engaged" when you mean "we are engaged". The past tense signifies a completed engagement, not the current state of being engaged.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were engaged" primarily functions as a statement of a past state. It describes a situation where two people had formally agreed to marry but are no longer in that state. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were engaged" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to describe a past state of betrothal or involvement in an activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it adheres to standard English grammar and serves to provide context regarding a prior relationship or situation. Its frequency across diverse sources like The New York Times, The Guardian and Huffington Post underscores its common usage, while awareness of potential tense confusions ensures effective communication. When using the phrase, remember to consider the specific context to avoid any misinterpretations and consider the alternatives offered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we got engaged

A more common and straightforward way of expressing the same idea.

we became betrothed

Emphasizes the formal agreement of the engagement.

we entered into an engagement

A more formal phrasing.

our engagement began

Focuses on the start of the engagement period.

we were affianced

Uses a less common, more archaic term for engagement.

we committed to marriage

Emphasizes the commitment aspect of getting engaged.

we decided to marry

Highlights the decision-making aspect leading to engagement.

we pledged to wed

A more poetic or old-fashioned way to express the intent to marry.

we planned to get married

Focuses on the planning stage that follows engagement.

we were to be married

Implies a future event that was planned.

FAQs

What's the difference between "we got engaged" and "we were engaged"?

"We got engaged" describes the act of becoming engaged. "We were engaged" describes the state of being engaged during a period of time. The first focuses on the action, while the second focuses on a state of being.

What can I say instead of "we were engaged"?

You can use alternatives like "we became betrothed", "our engagement began", or "we decided to marry" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "we are engaged" if the engagement has ended?

No, "we are engaged" indicates a current state. If the engagement has ended, you should say "we were engaged" to refer to the past, or "we are no longer engaged" to state the current situation.

How to use "we were engaged" in a sentence?

You can use "we were engaged" to describe a past period of engagement, for example, "We were engaged for two years before we got married" or to describe being involved in an activity, for example "We were engaged in intense negotiations".