Showing results for "being"

• present participle of be.

being

American  

[bee-ing] / ˈbi ɪŋ /

noun

• beings
  plural

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

2. conscious, mortal existence; life.

   Our being is as an instantaneous flash of light in the midst of eternal night.

3. substance or nature.

   of such a being as to arouse fear.

4. something that exists.

   inanimate beings.

5. a living thing.

   strange, exotic beings that live in the depths of the sea.

6. a human being; person.

   the most beautiful being you could imagine.

7. (initial capital letter) God.

8. Philosophy.

   1. that which has actuality either materially or in idea.

   2. absolute existence in a complete or perfect state, lacking no essential characteristic; essence.

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conjunction

1. Nonstandard. since; because; considering that (often followed by as, as how, orthat ).

   Being it's midnight, let's go home.

   Being as how you cooked supper, I'll do the dishes.

being British  

/ ˈbiːɪŋ /

noun

1. the state or fact of existing; existence

2. essential nature; self

   she put her whole being into the part

3. something that exists or is thought to exist, esp something that cannot be assigned to any category

   a being from outer space

4. a person; human being

5. (in the philosophy of Aristotle) actuality Compare becoming

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being Idioms  

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonbeing
  noun
• superbeing
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• beings
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of being

First recorded in 1250–1300; be + -ing ¹

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Explanation

A being is any living creature, from a person to a bug. Being also refers to the state of existing. "To be, or not to be" — that is the question when you're talking about being. Things that exist are in a state of being: this meaning of being is a little vague, but it has to do with the way things are alive and real. The other meaning is easier: beings are living things. Every person is a being, and so is every animal. Beings are no longer in a state of being when they're dead.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

being beings

Hopper says being involved in the arts can be difficult for those with sight loss because so much of it is visual.

From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2026

Wopke Hoekstra, the EU's top climate official, said the absences were "not completely atypical" as leaders may have "practical" reasons for not being able to attend a summit.

From Barron's ● Nov. 11, 2026

They handle the most complicated pieces, although they gradually are being replaced by locals, the managers said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2026

Campaigners are also anxious to see the ship remain in Newport, rather than being displayed at a museum facility elsewhere in the future.

From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2026

Phineas went from being "the most efficient and capable foreman" on the railroad to a man who couldn't be trusted because he couldn't get along with anyone.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

But at this rate of progress, AI taking us out of the loop might just be a matter of time, computing power and the decisions of human beings inside the labs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026

“Human beings have lived in space since the year 2000. It’s an oasis that we, as human beings, built.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

After a murder of crows kidnaps her little brother, a young girl ventures into an enchanted forest filled with talking animals and other magical beings, where a looming war will decide everyone's fate.

From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026

Stories involving miniature humanlike beings appear throughout folklore around the world.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026

Most powerful of them was Mother Water Monster, who offered both her domain and nourishing waters to these unfamiliar beings.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

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