being

[ bee-ing ]

/ ˈbi ɪŋ /

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See synonyms for being on Thesaurus.com

noun

the fact of existing; existence (as opposed to nonexistence).

conscious, mortal existence; life: Our being is as an instantaneous flash of light in the midst of eternal night.

substance or nature: of such a being as to arouse fear.

something that exists: inanimate beings.

a living thing: strange, exotic beings that live in the depths of the sea.

a human being; person: the most beautiful being you could imagine.

(initial capital letter) God.

Philosophy.

that which has actuality either materially or in idea.
absolute existence in a complete or perfect state, lacking no essential characteristic; essence.

conjunction

Nonstandard. since; because; considering that (often followed by as, as how, or that): Being it's midnight, let's go home. Being as how you cooked supper, I'll do the dishes.

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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 being

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at be, -ing¹

OTHER WORDS FROM being

non·be·ing, noun, adjectivesu·per·be·ing, noun

Words nearby being

beignet, Beijing, Beilan Pass, in awe of, be, in bad with, be, being, in good with, be, be in on, in the picture, be, in the right, be, be into

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

How to use being in a sentence

In 2011 LGBT media outlet Queerty took the app to task for allegedly deleting accounts that made reference to being trans.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Why, some might be asking, am I being so harsh on their work so soon after they died?
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Having been a legislator and a mayor, I particularly enjoy being a chief executive,” he said.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
However, more than 20 players on the ballot this year were probably worthy of being enshrined in Cooperstown.
Conservative Curt Says His Politics, Not His Pitching, Kept Him Out of the Hall of Fame|Ben Jacobs|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

“I do not support gay marriages being recognized in Florida,” he wrote Andrew Walther of Sanford.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He remembered something—the cherished pose of being a man plunged fathoms-deep in business.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Other things being equal, the volume of voice used measures the value that the mind puts upon the thought.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
The people here retained the same paganism and barbarity, only they were not so dangerous, being conquered by the Muscovites.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
And having an enormous appetite he was fortunate in being expert at finding angleworms.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
Judge or sheriff, it was all one to them, each being equally terrible in their eyes.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden

British Dictionary definitions for being

being

/ (ˈbiːɪŋ) /

noun

the state or fact of existing; existence

essential nature; selfshe put her whole being into the part

something that exists or is thought to exist, esp something that cannot be assigned to any categorya being from outer space

a person; human being

(in the philosophy of Aristotle) actualityCompare becoming (def. 3)

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with being

being

see for the moment (time being); other things being equal.

being

Origin of being

OTHER WORDS FROM being

Words nearby being

Words related to being

How to use being in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for being

Other Idioms and Phrases with being