been

Definition of beennext
past participle of be
1
2
3
as in ranked
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

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 been Naperville residents who’ve been unable to use Book Road for most of the year will see a little relief once the stretch between 75th and 83rd streets reopens by month’s end. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 Some of the greatest shows on Earth these days are coming from the road warriors who’ve been out there the longest. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026 Especially at both lines of scrimmage, Nebraska seeks players who’ve been through it. — Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 But nowhere have the politics of data centers been more strained than in the Wisconsin governor’s race. — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026 These are women in their late 30s, still single, who’ve been through relationships and are still trying, who could have had kids and haven’t, committed to their work and to enjoying themselves. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 Over the years, there’ve been so many different initiatives that then sprang out of these talks, which is another amazing thing. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026 The special edition adds her to the scene, on a surface level flexing access to these men who’ve been movers and shakers across consecutive centuries, which could imply an artist seeing their own work on the same level. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 July 2026 Three races in, there’ve been unforeseen winners, unpredicted changes to the schedule and the unanticipated reality of regulation changes dawning. — Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for been
Verb
  • The men entered the home with guns, found no drugs and fatally shot the three residents, who lived just across the street from Norman, the records show.
    — MICHAEL GRACZYK, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The mystery endured for decades until investigators traced one of nearly 30 keys found on him to Jacksonville, Florida, where Betkouski had lived.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • This fine establishment has sat at the same address in the Williamsburg Bridge's shadow since 1887, and the interiors carry about as many frills as your average public house—dark wood, plaster walls, and so on.
    — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
  • The birthday boy and his big sister Sterling Skye, 3, each sat between one of their parents’ laps.
    — Angel Saunders, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Mirroring the general population, rural voters ranked healthcare costs and gas prices as top economic worries.
    — Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The Star-Telegram ranked them from most surprising to least surprising.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • What happened next is the part that actually surprised the experts.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Here’s everything to know about the Netflix film’s final moments, and what happened after in the real-life events.
    — Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The successor stadium is significantly larger—by over a half-a-million square feet—than what existed before while accommodating only 35,000 fans, a 26% reduction from the old stadium and, by far, the smallest capacity in the Big Ten.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Spreadsheets existed in 2006, but here they are kept, like everyone’s shame and scruples, firmly out of sight.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Prior to the war’s launch, average gas prices stood at just under $3 a gallon, while diesel prices were less than $4 a gallon.
    — Rob Wile, NBC news, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Ronaldo Salgado looked around the room as about a dozen people stood.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Trump’s performance as president has always been layered with a certain amount of shtick, especially when he’s placed in his preferred setting, which is standing before a microphone in front of a rapturous crowd.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • As the industry evolves, so do the expectations placed on the next generation of beauty professionals.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Instead of calling for calm and letting the justice system work, too many political leaders on the left and progressive social influencers either fanned the flames of unrest or failed to act until enormous damage was done.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • This being a French line and a bilingual ship, everything is done once in French, then translated to English.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Been.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/been. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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