All were synonyms

verb were

• existed — Simple past tense and past participle of exist.
• lived — having life, a life, or lives, as specified (usually used in combination): a many-lived cat.
• coexisted — Simple past tense and past participle of coexist.
• abode — Your abode is the place where you live.
• acted — anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance: a heroic act.
• breathed — relating to or denoting a speech sound for whose articulation the vocal cords are not made to vibrate
• continued — continuing; not having stopped
• did — Did is the past tense of do1.
• endured — Suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently.
• held — simple past tense and a past participle of hold1 .
• inhabited — having inhabitants; occupied; lived in or on: an inhabited island.
• lasted — to go on or continue in time: The festival lasted three weeks.
• moved — to pass from one place or position to another.
• obtained — to come into possession of; get, acquire, or procure, as through an effort or by a request: to obtain permission; to obtain a better income.
• persisted — to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like, especially in spite of opposition, remonstrance, etc.: to persist in working for world peace; to persist in unpopular political activities.
• prevailed — to be widespread or current; exist everywhere or generally: Silence prevailed along the funeral route.
• remained — to continue in the same state; continue to be as specified: to remain at peace.
• rested — the part that is left or remains; remainder: The rest of the students are in the corridor.
• stood — simple past tense and past participle of stand.
• stayed — (of a ship) to change to the other tack.
• survived — to continue to live or exist after the death, cessation, or occurrence of: His wife survived him. He survived the operation.
• happened — to take place; come to pass; occur: Something interesting is always happening in New York.
• occurred — to happen; take place; come to pass: When did the accident occur?
• transpired — to occur; happen; take place.
• befell — to happen or occur.
• ensued — Simple past tense and past participle of ensue.