b

1 of 3

noun

ˈbē 

variants or B

plural b's or B's or bs or Bs ˈbēz 

often attributive

1

a

: the 2nd letter of the English alphabet

names that begin with b

b

: a graphic representation of this letter

in the shape of a b

c

: the speech sound that the written letter b represents : a speech counterpart of orthographic b

2

: the seventh tone of a C-major scale (see scale entry 5 sense 1)

in the key of b

3

: a graphic device for reproducing the letter b

the b on the laptop's keyboard

4

: one designated b especially as the second in order or class

I chose option b.

5

a

: a grade rating a student's work as good but short of excellent

b

: one graded or rated with a B

a b student

6

: something shaped like the letter B

7

B : the one of the four ABO blood groups characterized by the presence of antigens designated by the letter B and by the presence of antibodies against the antigens present in the A blood group

b

2 of 3

abbreviation

1

bachelor

2

bacillus

3

back

4

bag

5

bale

6

bass

7

basso

8

bat

9

Baumé

10

before

11

Bible

12

billion

13

bishop

14

black

15

blue

16

bolivar

17

book

18

born

19

bottom

20

brick

21

brightness

22

British

23

bulb

24

butut

B

3 of 3

symbol

boron

Did you know?

Words Starting With B

Browse 22,618 words and phrases that start with the letter B, from baa to byzen.

Examples of b in a Sentence

Noun

There are two b's in the word “abbey.”

All of their children's names begin with b.

a song in the key of B

got a B in math

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two types of influenza — A and B — are responsible for the seasonal flu epidemics that sicken people, according to the California Department of Public Health. — Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

And finally, if person A utters a needlessly wordy or detailed expression that is technically synonymous with a single term, person B may take A to implicate that the term does not apply to the person or event under discussion. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

Adelynn was just 4 years old when she was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rapidly progressing blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026

The symptoms of the flu, caused by the influenza A or B virus, tend to come on very quickly, unlike the gradual onset of a cold or COVID-19. — Ann Sheehan, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing b

• b and w
• b-ball
• b-boy
• b-boying
• b-girl

Kids Definition

b

noun

ˈbē

often capitalized

1

: the second letter of the English alphabet

2

: a musical note referred to by the letter B : the seventh tone of a C-major scale

3

: a grade rating a student's work as good

Medical Definition

b

1 of 3 abbreviation

1

bacillus

2

barometric

3

bath

4

Baumé scale

5

behavior

6

bel

7

bicuspid

8

born

9

brother

B

2 of 3 noun

ˈbē 

: the one of the four ABO blood groups characterized by the presence of antigens designated by the letter B and by the presence of antibodies against the antigens present in the A blood group

B

3 of 3 symbol

boron