plural beings
1
: a living thing
a human/alien/mythical being
sentient/sexual beings
2
: the state of existing : existence
philosophies of being
The story of how the university came into being [=began to exist; came to be] is quite fascinating.
a social movement that was brought into being in the 1960s
3
formal
: the most important or basic part of a person's mind or self
I knew it was true in the core of my being.
He loved music with his whole being. [=he deeply loved music]
informal
: since
—usually + that or as or as how
Being that/as it was too late to go home, we stayed the night at a hotel.
It should be her decision, being as how she's the one who's paying for it.
being
3 of 3present participle of be
Cite this Entry
“Being.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/being. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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