be
verb
\ ˈbē
\
\
past tense first- and third-person singular was\ ˈwəz
, ˈwäz \;
past tense second-person singular were\ ˈwər
\;
past tense plural were;
past subjunctive were;
past participle been\ ˈbin
, ˈben
, chiefly British ˈbēn
\;
present participle being\ ˈbē(-i)ŋ
\;
present tense first-person singular am\ əm , ˈam
\;
present tense second-person singular are\ ˈär
, ər \;
present tense third-person singular is\ ˈiz
, əz \;
present tense plural are;
present subjunctive be
, ˈwäz \;
past tense second-person singular were\ ˈwər
\;
past tense plural were;
past subjunctive were;
past participle been\ ˈbin
, ˈben
, chiefly British ˈbēn
\;
present participle being\ ˈbē(-i)ŋ
\;
present tense first-person singular am\ əm , ˈam
\;
present tense second-person singular are\ ˈär
, ər \;
present tense third-person singular is\ ˈiz
, əz \;
present tense plural are;
present subjunctive be
Definition of be
(Entry 1 of 5)
1a
: to equal in meaning : have the same connotation as : symbolize
God is love January is the first month let x be 10
b
: to have identity with : to constitute the same idea or object as
The first person I met was my brother.
c
: to constitute the same class as
These three books are the authoritative works on the president's life.
d
: to have a specified qualification or characterization
The leaves are green.
e
: to belong to the class of
the fish is a trout Keeping this room clean is your responsibility.
—used regularly in senses 1a through 1e as the copula of simple predication
2a
: to have an objective existence : have reality or actuality : live
I think, therefore I am
b
: to have, maintain, or occupy a place, situation, or position
the book is on the table
c
: to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted
—used only in infinitive form let him be
d
: to take place : occur
the concert was last night
e
: to come or go
has already been and gone has never been to the circus
1
—used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive-voice auxiliary the money was foundthe house is being built
2
—used as the auxiliary of the present participle in progressive tenses expressing continuous action he is readingI have been sleeping
3
—used with the past participle of some intransitive verbs as an auxiliary forming archaic perfect tenses … Christ is risen from the dead … — 1 Corinthians 15:20 (Douay Version)
4
—used with the infinitive with to to express futurity, arrangement in advance, or obligation I am to interview him todayshe was to become famous
Be
symbolDefinition of Be (Entry 2 of 5)
beryllium
Bé
abbreviation (1)Definition of Bé (Entry 3 of 5)
Baumé
BE
abbreviation (2)Definition of BE (Entry 4 of 5)
1
bachelor of education
2
bachelor of engineering
3
bill of exchange
4
Black English
be-
prefixDefinition of be- (Entry 5 of 5)
1
: on : around : over
besmear
2
: to a great or greater degree : thoroughly
befuddle
3
: excessively : ostentatiously
—in intensive verbs formed from simple verbs bedeck and in adjectives based on adjectives ending in -ed beribboned
4
: about : to : at : upon : against : across
bestride
5
: make : cause to be : treat as
belittle befriend
6
: call or dub especially excessively
bedoctor
7
: affect, afflict, treat, provide, or cover with especially excessively
bedevil befog
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