be

[ bee; unstressed bee, bi ]

/ bi; unstressed bi, bɪ /

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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.

verb (used with object) present singular 1st person am,2nd are,3rd is,present plural are;past singular 1st person was,2nd were3rd was,past plural were.

Informal. to say, declare, think, or feel (usually used to introduce reported speech or thought): So I'm walking down my street yesterday, and I'm “Why is there a crowd in front of my house?”

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of be

First recorded before 900; Middle English been, Old English bēon “to be” (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,” Old Church Slavonic byti, Persian būdan “to be”); see am, is, are¹, was, were

grammar notes for be

See me.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH be

be , bee

Other definitions for be (2 of 6)

Symbol, Chemistry.

beryllium.

Other definitions for be (3 of 6)

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 bīby

Other definitions for be (4 of 6)

Bé.

abbreviation

Baumé.

Other definitions for be (5 of 6)

B/E

or b.e.

bill of exchange.

Other definitions for be (6 of 6)

B.E.

abbreviation

Bachelor of Education.

Bachelor of Engineering.

Bank of England.

bill of exchange.

Board of Education.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use be in a sentence

The difference is that they are conjunct, whereas in the primitive standard octave (e—e) the tetrachords are disjunct (e-a b-e).
The Modes of Ancient Greek Music|David Binning Monro
This must refer to an octave scale of the form b c d e f g a b, consisting of the two tetrachords b-e and e-a, and the tone a-b.
The Modes of Ancient Greek Music|David Binning Monro
In practice it appears that musicians tuned the tetrachord b-e of this scale with the Pythagorean two Major tones and leimma.
The Modes of Ancient Greek Music|David Binning Monro
Certainly not; we never call them the States, and with us c-l-e-r-k spells clerk, and B-e-r-k Berk.
Penelope's Experiences in Scotland|Kate Douglas Wiggin

There will soon be one b-e-eg mince pie we-eth Captain Wright eenside.
Famous Privateersmen and Adventurers of the Sea|Charles H. L. Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for be (1 of 7)

be¹

/ (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; liveI think, therefore I am; not all that is can be understood

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

to take place; occurmy 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 tensethe man is running

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

(takes an infinitive) expresses intention, expectation, supposition, or obligationthe 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 comethe 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)

be²

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)

be-

prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives

(from nouns) to surround completely; cover on all sidesbefog

(from nouns) to affect completely or excessivelybedazzle

(from nouns) to consider as or cause to bebefool; befriend

(from nouns) to provide or cover withbejewel

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

Word Origin for be-

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

British Dictionary definitions for be (6 of 7)

Bé

abbreviation for

Baumé

British Dictionary definitions for be (7 of 7)

B/E

BE or b.e.

abbreviation for

bill of exchange

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for be

The symbol for beryllium.

Other 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

be

Origin of be

grammar notes for be

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH be

Other definitions for be (2 of 6)

Other definitions for be (3 of 6)

Origin of be-

Other definitions for be (4 of 6)

Other definitions for be (5 of 6)

or b.e.

Other definitions for be (6 of 6)

Words related to be

How to use be in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for be (1 of 7)

Word Origin for be

British Dictionary definitions for be (2 of 7)

British Dictionary definitions for be (3 of 7)

British Dictionary definitions for be (4 of 7)

British Dictionary definitions for be (5 of 7)

Word Origin for be-

British Dictionary definitions for be (6 of 7)

British Dictionary definitions for be (7 of 7)

BE or b.e.

Scientific definitions for be

Other Idioms and Phrases with be