Being

/ˈbiː.ɪŋ/ · verb

Meaning

present participle and gerund of be.

Definitions by Sense

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

Example Sentences

Minute grew into minute, and still there was no sign of life, nor did the curtain move; but I felt the gaze of the unknown being sinking through and through me, and filling me with a nameless terror, till the perspiration stood in beads upon my brow.

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

For the service to be considered was not the service of one servant, but of two servants, and even of three servants, and even of an infinity of servants, of whom the first could not out till the second up, nor the second up till the third in, nor the third in till the first out, nor the first out till the third in, nor the third in till the second up, nor the second up till the first out, every going, every being, every coming consisting with a being and a coming, a coming and a going, a going and a being, nay with all the beings and all the comings, with all the comings and all the goings, with all the goings and all the beings, of all the servants that had ever served Mr. Knott, of all the servants that ever would serve Mr. Knott.

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.

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

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

Synonyms for being

Antonyms for being

Related Words

Word Forms

• beeing
• beïng
• beings

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions