being

noun be·ing \ ˈbē(-i)ŋ \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of being

1 a : the quality or state of having existence

a social movement that came into being in the 1960s

artistic form comes into being only when two elements are successfully fused
—Carlos Lynes

b (1) : something that is conceivable and hence capable of 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

I knew it was true in the core of my being.

; especially : personality

3 : a living thing

sentient beings

a mythical being

; especially : person

a very sexual being

See being defined for English-language learners

See being defined for kids

Examples of being in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of being from the Web

The dead have two lives, explained Robert Hertz, a sociologist, in a paper in 1907: one in nature, as matter, and one in culture, as social beings.

— The Economist, "Why undertakers are worried," 12 Apr. 2018
Wednesday, April 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. To be courageous and spiritually awake is our greatest calling as men and as human beings.

— Courant Community, "Community," 10 Apr. 2018
That, to me, is a mirror of what we as human beings do as well.

— marlena scott, Teen Vogue, "Sally Kohn's New Book Shares Lessons About "The Opposite of Hate"," 10 Apr. 2018
By December of 2017, even Facebook’s in-house research team was admitting that using Facebook the way Facebook is generally used in reality is harmful to users’ mental health and well-being.

— matthew yglesias, Vox, "The case against Facebook," 9 Apr. 2018
Having individual control over one’s thermostat is a big plus for workplace well-being, yet here is one snag: my wife, who also works at home, prefers things on the warmer side.

— Outside Online, "Creating a workplace that truly makes us happy and healthy takes a lot more than standing desks and on-site yoga. Thankfully, new research has sparked a growing design revolution.," 26 Mar. 2018
Pokeno: Friday at 1 p.m. The center’s mission is to contribute to the dignity, well-being and independence of the community’s seniors.

— Ramona Sentinel, "Ramona Senior Center," 21 Mar. 2018
That being said, strengthening the pectoral muscles—along with muscles of the back, shoulders, and core—may help reduce the appearance of sag by improving overall tone and posture.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "7 Things You Can and Can’t Do About Saggy Breasts," 20 Mar. 2018
Hawking and other high-profile users show the world that technology is not strange, nor does it diminish or magnify them as human beings.

— martin e. blair, Scientific American, "Stephen Hawking as Accidental Ambassador for Assistive Technologies," 15 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'being.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.