be

be

verb \ˈbē\

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

Definition of BE

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, befall

verbal 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>

Examples of BE

1. <stories that begin with the familiar line “once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden”>
2. <we'll be there waiting for you>

Origin of BE

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BE

Synonyms: breathe, exist, live, subsist

Antonyms: depart, die, expire, pass away, perish, succumb

Related Words: abide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep (on), kick, last, lead, persist, rule, run on, survive; move; flourish, prosper, thrive

Near Antonyms: disappear, evaporate, vanish; cease, desist, discontinue, end, quit, stop; abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with BE

b, bee, c, cay, cee, Cree, d, dee, Dee, dree, e, fee, flea, flee, free, g, gee, ghee, glee, gree, he, key, Key, knee, lea, lee, me, mi, p, pea, pee, plea, pree, quay, re, Rhee, scree, sea, see, she, si, ski, spree, sri, t, tea, tee, the, thee, three, ti, tree, twee, Twi, v, vee, we, wee, whee, ye, z, zee