Being

Quick meaning: Being is a verb meaning present participle and gerund of be.

Meaning

present participle and gerund of be.

More Meanings

1. A living creature.
2. The state or fact of existence, consciousness, or life, or something in such a state.
3. (philosophy) That which has actuality (materially or in concept).
4. (philosophy) One's basic nature, or the qualities thereof; essence or personality.
5. Given that; since.
6. (obsolete) An abode; a cottage.

Example Sentences

’Tis a hard matter therefore to confine them, being they are so various and many […].

It was a relief to dismiss them [Sir Roger's servants] into little beings within my manor.

1608-1634, John Webster (and perhaps Thomas Heywood), Appius and Virginia Claudius, thou / Wast follower of his fortunes in his being.

The written word, he often argued, could only ever be a low-fidelity reproduction of the fullness of being; any text was ultimately humbled by the reality that it sought to represent.

Word Forms

• beings

Synonyms for being

Depending on context, synonyms include as, because, existence, organism, beingness, life form.

Antonyms for being

Common opposites include nonexistence, nonbeing.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include existence, beingness, life form, organism, subject, seeing.

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