be

verb

ˈbē How to pronounce be (audio)
Definition of benext
1
as in to live
to have life stories that begin with the familiar line "once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stand
to occupy a place or location we'll be there waiting for you

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to rank
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes our school's football team is first in its division

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to happen
to take place the party is next Saturday

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of be The European Union's transportation commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said there were 11 more on Friday. — Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026 Tasnim said there was no official information on damage, Reuters added. — Jack Sommers, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026 There are a few ways making two payments a month can be beneficial. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 6 Nov. 2026 But having two match points to beat her for the first time and to advance to the semifinals of the US Open for the first time—there was a lot on the line that obviously didn’t go my way. — Corey Seymour, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for be
Recent Examples of Synonyms for be
  1. live
  2. stand
  3. rank
  4. happen
  5. exist
  6. lie
  7. place
  8. come
Verb
  • Learning about the local communities who live around the lake.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Many candidates campaigned on addressing cost-of-living issues and bringing down gasoline prices, which have risen 38% since the start of the war in Iran, according to AAA data.
    — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of live
Verb
  • Police said a standing reward of up to $50,000 was offered to anyone with information leading to the driver's identification, arrest and conviction through Los Angeles' Administrative Code Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Hemphill recommends leaving these standing through winter, to provide shelter for birds and beneficial insects.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of stand
Verb
  • The Buckeyes hadn’t been ranked so low, excluding the 2020 pandemic season, since 2014.
    — Eric Olson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
  • In Colorado, one of only a few states that publish the amounts wagered by sport, table tennis, which is prized among gamblers for its speed, is now the fourth most popular, ranking above soccer and hockey.
    — New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of rank
Verb
  • Ossoff and El-Sayed, similarly to Kamala Harris during her presidential bid, also leaned into what was happening on the internet.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
  • There will be a lot of infighting and arguing over what happened and why that is.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of happen
Verb
  • The agreement with Kyoto Fusioneering will expand existing work on next-generation gyrotrons — devices that generate high-power microwaves used to heat the plasma.
    — Ian King, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The modular laptop display system is not an entirely new idea, and there are some existing products on the market that offer detachable portable screens.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of exist
Verb
  • Watford said the woman was lying motionless on the floor for about 10 minutes before a housekeeper knocked on the door, the complaint says.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Safforld was given new trials and later freed under a plea deal in 2010, months before Burge was convicted of lying about torture of suspects.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of lie
Verb
  • Since Tuesday's election, he's refused to acknowledge any responsibility, placing blame on the candidates.
    — STEVEN SLOAN, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Howard interpolates old clips and interviews, placing Avedon, with his sleek command, at the center of the movie.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of place
Verb
  • Food trend experts are betting the coming year will bring it even closer to your stovetop.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026
  • For the first time in a dozen years, a leading OB-GYN group has updated its guidance on managing hot flashes, night sweats, sleep changes and other disruptive symptoms that often come with menopause.
    — Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of come

Phrases Containing be

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be
beach
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Cite this Entry

“Be.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/be. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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