been

American

[bin, ben] / bɪn, bɛn /

verb

past participle of be.

been British

/ biːn, bɪn /

verb

the past participle of be 1

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He has been brilliant and got the club back into the Champions League.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

He has been the only real glimmer of hope for the side.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

He has been fantastic playing in two different positions.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

This early exit is undoubtedly another bump in the road of what has been a rocky journey since her unprecedented victory in New York.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

If we hadn’t been driving for only one hour, I’d almost believe the bus took a wrong turn and ended up in Browning, Montana.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023