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 And then there are other analysts and reporters, such as Mark Clattenburg, Geoff Shreeves, Alex Aljoe and Katie Shanahan. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 18 July 2026 Texas Tech’s Board of Regents Chairman Cody Campbell says there was nothing nefarious about a June donation to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 July 2026 It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. — Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026 During heavy rainfall, there is a risk of flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 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
  • Residents have continued to call on local officials to secure a strong community benefits agreement in those negotiations in order to ensure the deal will benefit all Wyandotte County residents, including those living east of I-635.
    — Sofi Zeman July 15, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
  • Individuals face criminal citations and prosecutions over living outside, and personal property that’s stored in public is frequently destroyed.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of live
Verb
  • Every child deserves security, dignity, and a community that stands fiercely in their defense.
    — S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • All while the other competitor in the arena, Matt Kuchar, stood and waited, with the biggest round of his life on the line.
    — Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of stand
Verb
  • Argentina also ranks first for corners from the right that traveled to the near edge of the six-yard box with 10, six more than any other team.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The Rangers’ payroll ranks right in the middle of MLB, and the team is playing to that level.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
Definition of rank
Verb
  • Based on that timeline, Gueye’s re-evaluation won’t happen until mid-October at the earliest.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
  • How else to explain what happened on Wednesday, or eight days prior in the escape against Egypt?
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Definition of happen
Verb
  • Christian nationalists — once existing in the margins of American Christianity — have become mainstream in recent years, establishing churches that host some of the nation’s most powerful politicians.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
  • Remaining floors would be dedicated to data center infrastructure, according to plans, which also show that an existing building on the site would be demolished and replaced.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
Definition of exist
Verb
  • The port lies near the historic village of Tis, where archaeological remains date back to at least 2500 BCE.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Cary, torn between his own desires and others’ expectations, can’t seem to determine where his loyalties lie.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 July 2026
Definition of lie
Verb
  • Not luxury placed on top of the land, but abundance already present in it.
    — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Several supporters of the cause called for the issue to be placed on the Board of Regents’ agenda for their next meeting in September.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of place
Verb
  • But all of these methods come second to taking steps to protect ourselves directly, experts emphasize.
    — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Germany won the final, with its only goal coming late in extra time.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of come

Phrases Containing be

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Cite this Entry

“Be.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/be. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on be

Nglish: Translation of be for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about be

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