being

¹be·ing

noun \ˈbē(-i)ŋ\

Definition of BEING

1

a : the quality or state of having existence

b (1) : something conceivable as existing (2) : something that actually exists (3) : the totality of existing things

c : conscious existence : life

2

: the qualities that constitute an existent thing : essence; especially : personality

3

: a living thing; especially : person

Examples of BEING

1. a social movement that was brought into being in the 1960s
2. I knew it was true in the core of my being.

First Known Use of BEING

14th century

Related to BEING

Synonyms

baby, human, bird, bod [British], body, character, cookie (or cooky), creature, customer, devil, duck, egg, face, fish, guy, head, human being, individual, life, man, mortal, party, person, personage, scout, slob, sort, soul, specimen, stiff, thing, wight

Related Words

hominid, homo, humanoid; brother, fellow, fellowman, neighbor; celebrity, personality, self, somebody

Near Antonyms

animal, beast, beastie, brute, critter

²being

adjective

Definition of BEING

: present —used in the phrase for the time being

Origin of BEING

present participle of be

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with BEING

seeing, skiing

³being

conjunction

Definition of BEING

chiefly dialect

: since, because —usually used with as, as how, or that

First Known Use of BEING

1528