be

¹ American  

[bee, bee, bi] / bi, bi, bɪ /

verb (used without object)

PRESENT_SINGULAR_1ST_PERSON

am

SECOND_PERSON

are

SECOND_PERSON

art

THIRD_PERSON

is

PRESENT_PLURAL

are

PAST_SINGULAR_1ST_PERSON

was

SECOND_PERSON

were

SECOND_PERSON

wast, wert

THIRD_PERSON

was

PAST_PLURAL

were

PRESENT_SUBJUNCTIVE

be

PAST_SUBJUNCTIVE_SINGULAR_1ST_PERSON

were

SECOND_PERSON

were

SECOND_PERSON

wert

THIRD_PERSON

were

PAST_SUBJUNCTIVE_PLURAL

were

PAST_PARTICIPLE

been

PRESENT_PARTICIPLE

being

1. to exist or live.

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

2. to take place; happen; occur.

   The wedding was last week.

3. to occupy a place or position.

   The book is on the table.

4. to continue or remain as before.

   Let things be.

5. to belong; attend; befall.

   May good fortune be with you.

6. (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.

7. (used as a copula to introduce or form interrogative or imperative sentences).

   Is that right? Be quiet! Don't be facetious.

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auxiliary verb

PRESENT_SINGULAR_1ST_PERSON

am

SECOND_PERSON

are

SECOND_PERSON

art

THIRD_PERSON

is

PRESENT_PLURAL

are

PAST_SINGULAR_1ST_PERSON

was

SECOND_PERSON

were

SECOND_PERSON

wast, wert

THIRD_PERSON

was

PAST_PLURAL

were

PRESENT_SUBJUNCTIVE

be

PAST_SUBJUNCTIVE_SINGULAR_1ST_PERSON

were

SECOND_PERSON

were

SECOND_PERSON

wert

THIRD_PERSON

were

PAST_SUBJUNCTIVE_PLURAL

were

PAST_PARTICIPLE

been

PRESENT_PARTICIPLE

being

1. (used with the present participle of another verb to form the progressive tense).

   I am waiting.

2. (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.

3. (used with the past participle of another verb to form the passive voice).

   The date was fixed. It must be done.

4. (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

THIRD_PERSON

is

PRESENT_PLURAL

are

PAST_SINGULAR_1ST_PERSON

was

SECOND_PERSON

were

PAST_PLURAL

were

SECOND_PERSON

are

THIRD_PERSON

was

1. 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?”

Be ² American  

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. beryllium.

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Bé. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Baumé.

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B/E ⁴ American  

Or b.e.

1. bill of exchange.

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be- ⁵ American  

1. a native English prefix formerly used in the formation of verbs.

   become, besiege, bedaub, befriend.

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B.E. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. Bachelor of Education.

2. Bachelor of Engineering.

3. Bank of England.

4. bill of exchange.

5. Board of Education.

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be ¹ British  

/ biː, bɪ /

verb

1. to have presence in the realm of perceived reality; exist; live

   I think, therefore I am

   not all that is can be understood

2. (used in the perfect or past perfect tenses only) to pay a visit; go

   have you been to Spain?

3. to take place; occur

   my birthday was last Thursday

4. (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 )

5. (takes a present participle) forms the progressive present tense

   the man is running

6. (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

7. (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

8. (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

9. the facts concerning (something) are of no importance

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be- ² British  

prefix

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

   befog

2. (from nouns) to affect completely or excessively

   bedazzle

3. (from nouns) to consider as or cause to be

   befool

   befriend

4. (from nouns) to provide or cover with

   bejewel

5. (from verbs) at, for, against, on, or over

   bewail

   berate

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BE ³ British  

abbreviation

1. bill of exchange

2. (in the US) Board of Education

3. Bachelor of Education

4. Bachelor of Engineering

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Bé ⁴ British  

abbreviation

1. Baumé

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Be ⁵ British  

symbol

1. beryllium

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B/E ⁶ British  

abbreviation

1. bill of exchange

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be ⁷ British  

abbreviation

1. Belgium

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be Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing be

• let be

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Grammar

See me.

Etymology

Origin of be¹

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”); am, is, are ¹, was, were

Origin of be-⁵

Middle English, Old English, unstressed form of bī by

Example Sentences

You are confident that you will be jumping onto huge platforms — just how they assured you.

From Space Scoop

When things look bleak in Hollywood, it is often a sequel that saves the day.

From MarketWatch

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Concerns about Nvidia have dragged the stock’s valuation near historically low levels — and that suggests big gains could be in store, according to a BofA analyst.

From MarketWatch