be

[ bee; unstressed bee, bi ]

/ bi; unstressed bi, bɪ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR be ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), present singular 1st person am, 2nd are or (Archaic) art, 3rd is, present plural are; past singular 1st person was, 2nd were or (Archaic) wast or wert, 3rd was, past plural were; present subjunctive be; past subjunctive singular 1st person were, 2nd were or (Archaic) wert, 3rd were; past subjunctive plural were; past participle been; present participle be·ing.

to exist or live: Shakespeare's “To be or not to be” is the ultimate question.

to take place; happen; occur: The wedding was last week.

to occupy a place or position: The book is on the table.

to continue or remain as before: Let things be.

to belong; attend; befall: May good fortune be with you.

(used as a copula to connect the subject with its predicate adjective, or predicate nominative, in order to describe, identify, or amplify the subject): Martha is tall. John is president. This is she.

(used as a copula to introduce or form interrogative or imperative sentences): Is that right? Be quiet! Don't be facetious.

auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person am, 2nd are or (Archaic) art, 3rd is, present plural are; past singular 1st person was, 2nd were or (Archaic) wast or wert, 3rd was, past plural were; present subjunctive be; past subjunctive singular 1st person were, 2nd were or (Archaic) wert, 3rd were; past subjunctive plural were; past participle been; present participle be·ing.

(used with the present participle of another verb to form the progressive tense): I am waiting.

(used with the present participle or infinitive of the principal verb to indicate future action): She is visiting there next week. He is to see me today.

(used with the past participle of another verb to form the passive voice): The date was fixed. It must be done.

(used in archaic or literary constructions with some intransitive verbs to form the perfect tense): He is come. Agamemnon to the wars is gone.

Origin of be

before 900; Middle English been, Old English bēon ( bēo- (akin to Old Frisian, Old High German bim, German bin, Old Saxon bium, biom (I) am, Old English, Old High German, Old Saxon būan, Old Norse būa reside, Latin fuī (I) have been, Greek phy- grow, become, Old Irish boí (he) was, Sanskrit bhávati (he) becomes, is, Lithuanian búti to be, OCS byti, Persian būd was)) + -n infinitive suffix. See am, is, are¹, was, were

usage note for be

See me.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH be

be bee

Words nearby be

bdle., bdrm., bds, bdsa, bdsm, be, be a credit to, be along, be big on, be bound to, be busted

Definition for be (2 of 7)

Symbol, Chemistry.

beryllium.

Definition for be (3 of 7)

B and E

or B&E

noun

Law. the crime of breaking and entering: two of the elements of the crime of burglary.

Origin of B and E

First recorded in 1960–65

Definition for be (4 of 7)

Bé.

Baumé.

Definition for be (5 of 7)

be-

a native English prefix formerly used in the formation of verbs: become, besiege, bedaub, befriend.

Origin of be-

Middle English, Old English, unstressed form of bī by¹

Definition for be (6 of 7)

B.E.

Bachelor of Education.

Bachelor of Engineering.

Bank of England.

bill of exchange.

Board of Education.

Definition for be (7 of 7)

B/E

or b.e.

bill of exchange.

British Dictionary definitions for be (1 of 7)

be ¹

/ (biː, unstressed bɪ) /

verb present singular 1st person am; 2nd person are; 3rd person is; present plural are; past singular 1st person was; 2nd person were; 3rd person was; past plural were; present participle being or past participle been (intr)

to have presence in the realm of perceived reality; exist; live I think, therefore I am; not all that is can be understood

(used in the perfect or past perfect tenses only) to pay a visit; go have you been to Spain?

to take place; occur my birthday was last Thursday

(copula) used as a linking verb between the subject of a sentence and its noun or adjective complement or complementing phrase. In this case be expresses the relationship of either essential or incidental equivalence or identity (John is a man; John is a musician) or specifies an essential or incidental attribute (honey is sweet; Susan is angry). It is also used with an adverbial complement to indicate a relationship of location in space or time (Bill is at the office; the dance is on Saturday)

(takes a present participle) forms the progressive present tense the man is running

(takes a past participle) forms the passive voice of all transitive verbs and (archaically) certain intransitive ones a good film is being shown on television tonight; I am done

(takes an infinitive) expresses intention, expectation, supposition, or obligation the president is to arrive at 9.30; you are not to leave before I say so

(takes a past participle) forms the perfect or past perfect tense of certain intransitive verbs of motion, such as go or come the last train is gone

be that as it may the facts concerning (something) are of no importance

Word Origin for be

Old English bēon; related to Old High German bim am, Latin fui I have been, Greek phuein to bring forth, Sanskrit bhavati he is

British Dictionary definitions for be (2 of 7)

be ²

the internet domain name for

Belgium

British Dictionary definitions for be (3 of 7)

the chemical symbol for

beryllium

British Dictionary definitions for be (4 of 7)

abbreviation for

bill of exchange

(in the US) Board of Education

Bachelor of Education

Bachelor of Engineering

British Dictionary definitions for be (5 of 7)

Bé

abbreviation for

Baumé

British Dictionary definitions for be (6 of 7)

be-

prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives

(from nouns) to surround completely; cover on all sides befog

(from nouns) to affect completely or excessively bedazzle

(from nouns) to consider as or cause to be befool; befriend

(from nouns) to provide or cover with bejewel

(from verbs) at, for, against, on, or over bewail; berate

Word Origin for be-

Old English be-, bi-, unstressed variant of bī by

British Dictionary definitions for be (7 of 7)

B/E

BE or b.e.

abbreviation for

bill of exchange

Medical definitions for be

The symbol for the elementberyllium

Scientific definitions for be (1 of 2)

The symbol for beryllium.

Scientific definitions for be (2 of 2)

beryllium

[ bə-rĭl′ē-əm ]

Be

A hard, lightweight, steel-gray metallic element of the alkaline-earth group, found in various minerals, especially beryl. It has a high melting point and is corrosion-resistant. Beryllium is used to make sturdy, lightweight alloys and aerospace structural materials. It is also used as a neutron moderator in nuclear reactors. Atomic number 4; atomic weight 9.0122; melting point 1,278°C; boiling point 2,970°C; specific gravity 1.848; valence 2. See Periodic Table.

Idioms and Phrases with be

In addition to the idioms beginning with be

be a credit to
be along
be big on
be bound to
be busted
bed and board
bed and breakfast
bed of roses
be down
bee in one's bonnet
been around
been had
been there, done that
been to the wars
beginning of the end, the
begin to see daylight
begin to see the light
begin with
beg off
beg the question
beg to differ
be had
be in on
be into
bell the cat, who will
be my guest
bend one's elbow
bend over backwards
bend someone's ear
be off
be on
be oneself
be on to
beside oneself
beside the point
be that as it may
be the death of
be the end of one
be the making of

also see:

let be

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

be

Origin of be

usage note for be

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH be

Words nearby be

Definition for be (2 of 7)

Symbol, Chemistry.

Definition for be (3 of 7)

or B&E

noun

Origin of B and E

Definition for be (4 of 7)

Definition for be (5 of 7)

Origin of be-

Definition for be (6 of 7)

Definition for be (7 of 7)

or b.e.

Words related to be

British Dictionary definitions for be (1 of 7)

verb present singular 1st person am; 2nd person are; 3rd person is; present plural are; past singular 1st person was; 2nd person were; 3rd person was; past plural were; present participle being or past participle been (intr)

Word Origin for be

British Dictionary definitions for be (2 of 7)

the internet domain name for

British Dictionary definitions for be (3 of 7)

the chemical symbol for

British Dictionary definitions for be (4 of 7)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for be (5 of 7)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for be (6 of 7)

prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives

Word Origin for be-

British Dictionary definitions for be (7 of 7)

BE or b.e.

abbreviation for

Medical definitions for be

Scientific definitions for be (1 of 2)

Scientific definitions for be (2 of 2)

Be

Idioms and Phrases with be