be
be Lexical Profile
be Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To exist, live, or have objective reality.
"The ancient philosopher pondered what it truly means to be."
To link a subject with a predicate nominal or adjective that describes its identity, quality, condition, or role.
"She plans to be a pediatric surgeon after completing her medical residency."
To occupy a specified place, position, or spatial relationship.
"The reference books should be on the middle shelf of the library."
To serve as an auxiliary verb with a present participle to form continuous tenses or with a past participle to form the passive voice.
"The historic bridge will be restored by civil engineers over the summer."
To take place, occur, or happen at a given time.
"The annual graduation ceremony will be next Saturday morning."
Word Nuance & Usage
The verb 'be' is the most irregular (suppletive) verb in English, drawing its conjugated forms (am, is, are, was, were, been, being) from three historically distinct Indo-European roots. Avoid confusing it with the homophone 'bee' (the winged insect).
• Rhymes for be
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'bēon' (to exist, come to be), derived from Proto-Germanic *biju and Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (to grow, become); its inflected forms merged with roots from Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- (am, is) and *h₂wes- (was, were).