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being

SayBEE-ing/ˈbiɪŋ/UK/ˈbiːɪŋ/

Noun pluralbeings

7 meanings of being

Practice

  1. 1
    behavingverb
    The -ing form of be. Use it in phrases like is being fixed, is being rude, or being honest.

    She is being very kind to the new students today.

    Being honest is usually the best choice.

    UsageSay is being for how someone acts now: he is being silly.

  2. 2
    living creaturenouncountable
    Any creature that is alive, such as a person or an animal.

    Like a person, a dog, or a bird: anything that is alive.

    Every living being needs food and water to survive.

    They wondered whether any being lived on the distant planet.

    UsageOften in human being and living being.

    Similarcreature, organism, entity

  3. 3
    existencenoununcountable
    The fact of existing, living, or being aware.

    The universe came into being billions of years ago.

    The town came into being around an old railroad stop.

    UsageOften come into being: begin to exist.

    Similarexistence, life

    Oppositenonexistence, nothingness

    Note

being is a form of be

be, verb: Used to say what someone or something is like, such as their look, age, size, or price. Full entry

Forms
beis he/she/itbeing -ing formwas past tensebeen past participle
Spelling
be → being: add -ing

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of being apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English 'being', made from 'be' plus the ending '-ing'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts