Main Entry: be

Pronunciation: \ˈbē\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): past 1st & 3d singular was \ˈwəz, ˈwäz\; 2d singular were \ˈwər\; plural were; past subjunctive were; past participle been \ˈbin, ˈben, chiefly British ˈbēn\; present participle be·ing \ˈbē(-i)ŋ\; present 1st singular am \əm, ˈam\; 2d singular are \ˈär, ər\; 3d singular is \ˈiz, əz\; plural are; present subjunctive be

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bēon; akin to Old High German bim am, Latin fui I have been, futurus about to be, fieri to become, be done, Greek phynai to be born, be by nature, phyein to produce

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb 1 a : to equal in meaning : have the same connotation as : symbolize <God is love> <January is the first month> <let x be 10> b : to have identity with <the first person I met was my brother> c : to constitute the same class as d : to have a specified qualification or characterization <the leaves are green> e : to belong to the class of <the fish is a trout> —used regularly in senses 1a through 1e as the copula of simple predication
2 a : to have an objective existence : have reality or actuality : live <I think, therefore I am> b : to have, maintain, or occupy a place, situation, or position <the book is on the table> c : to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted —used only in infinitive form <let him be> d : to take place : occur <the concert was last night> e : to come or go <has already been and gone> <has never been to the circus> f archaic : belong, befallverbal auxiliary 1 —used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive-voice auxiliary <the money was found> <the house is being built>
2 —used as the auxiliary of the present participle in progressive tenses expressing continuous action <he is reading> <I have been sleeping>
3 —used with the past participle of some intransitive verbs as an auxiliary forming archaic perfect tenses <Christ is risen from the dead — 1 Corinthians 15:20(Douay Version)>
4 —used with the infinitive with to to express futurity, arrangement in advance, or obligation <I am to interview him today> <she was to become famous>