BE (am, are, been, is, was, were)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Be mean? 

• BE (noun)
  The noun BE has 1 sense:

1. a light strong brittle grey toxic bivalent metallic element

  Familiarity information: BE used as a noun is very rare.

• BE (verb)
  The verb BE has 13 senses:

1. have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)

2. be identical to; be someone or something

3. occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere

4. have an existence, be extant

5. happen, occur, take place

6. be identical or equivalent to

7. form or compose

8. work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function

9. represent, as of a character on stage

10. spend or use time

11. have life, be alive

12. to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form

13. be priced at

  Familiarity information: BE used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A light strong brittle grey toxic bivalent metallic element

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

atomic number 4; Be; beryllium; glucinium

Hypernyms ("Be" is a kind of...):

metal; metallic element (any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.)

Holonyms ("Be" is a substance of...):

beryl (the chief source of beryllium; colored transparent varieties are valued as gems)

chrysoberyl (a rare hard yellow green mineral consisting of beryllium aluminate in crystal form; used as a gemstone)

gadolinite; ytterbite (a mineral that is a source of rare earths; consists of silicates of iron and beryllium and cerium and yttrium and erbium)

• BE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

This is not a good answer

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "be"):

look (have a certain outward or facial expression)

hurt; suffer (feel pain or be in pain)

be well (be healthy; feel good)

suffer (feel unwell or uncomfortable)

feel (be conscious of a physical, mental, or emotional state)

remain; rest; stay (stay the same; remain in a certain state)

continue (exist over a prolonged period of time)

coruscate; scintillate; sparkle (be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity)

bedevil; befuddle; confound; confuse; discombobulate; fox; fuddle; throw (be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly)

rank (take or have a position relative to others)

point (be positionable in a specified manner)

need; require; want (have need of)

compact; pack (have the property of being packable or of compacting easily)

rest (not move; be in a resting position)

cut (allow incision or separation)

boil; seethe (be in an agitated emotional state)

moon about; moon around; mope (be apathetic, gloomy, or dazed)

appear; look; seem (give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect)

appear; seem (seem to be true, probable, or apparent)

owe (be in debt)

belong (be owned by; be in the possession of)

cover (be sufficient to meet, defray, or offset the charge or cost of)

represent (be representative or typical for)

account (be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something)

cut across (be contrary to ordinary procedure or limitations)

begin; start (have a beginning characterized in some specified way)

begin (have a beginning, of a temporal event)

stand (be in some specified state or condition)

define; delimit; delimitate; delineate; specify (determine the essential quality of)

go (be or continue to be in a certain condition)

add up; make sense (be reasonable or logical or comprehensible)

comprise; consist (be composed of)

prove; turn out; turn up (be shown or be found to be)

account for (be the reason or explanation for)

remain (be left; of persons, questions, problems, results, evidence, etc.)

adhere; stand by; stick; stick by (be loyal to)

footle; hang around; lallygag; linger; loaf; loiter; lollygag; lounge; lurk; mess about; mill about; mill around; tarry (be about)

add up; amount; come; number; total (add up in number or quantity)

count; matter; weigh (have weight; have import, carry weight)

rate (be worthy of or have a certain rating)

deserve; merit (be worthy or deserving)

buy (be worth or be capable of buying)

shine (be clear and obvious)

fall (be due)

depend (be contingent upon (something that is elided))

underlie (be or form the base for)

behoove; behove (be appropriate or necessary)

stink (be extremely bad in quality or in one's performance)

blow; suck (be inadequate or objectionable)

delimit; subtend (be opposite to; of angles and sides, in geometry)

body forth; embody; incarnate; substantiate (represent in bodily form)

contain; hold; take (be capable of holding or containing)

be; cost (be priced at)

measure (have certain dimensions)

buzz; hum; seethe (be noisy with activity)

abound (be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities)

disaccord; disagree; discord (be different from one another)

gape; yaw; yawn (be wide open)

be given; incline; lean; run; tend (have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined)

go; run (have a particular form)

enter; figure (be or play a part of or in)

press (be urgent)

rage (be violent; as of fires and storms)

interrelate; relate (be in a relationship with)

rut (be in a state of sexual excitement; of male mammals)

stagnate (cease to flow; stand without moving)

stagnate (stand still)

come in handy (be useful for a certain purpose)

squat (be close to the earth, or be disproportionately wide)

hoodoo (bring bad luck; be a source of misfortune)

impend (be imminent or about to happen)

range; run (change or be different within limits)

continue; remain; stay; stay on (continue in a place, position, or situation)

sell (be sold at a certain price or in a certain way)

translate (be translatable, or be translatable in a certain way)

head; head up (be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel)

come in for (be subject to or the object of)

compare (be comparable)

come; fall (come under, be classified or included)

encounter; run into (be beset by)

gravitate (be attracted to)

pay (be worth it)

diverge (have no limits as a mathematical series)

shine (be distinguished or eminent)

iridesce (be iridescent)

lie (be and remain in a particular state or condition)

stand (occupy a place or location, also metaphorically)

hang (be menacing, burdensome, or oppressive)

litter (strew)

suit (be agreeable or acceptable)

end; terminate (be the end of; be the last or concluding part of)

fit (conform to some shape or size)

lend (have certain characteristics of qualities for something; be open or vulnerable to)

let go (be relaxed)

belong (be rightly classified in a class or category)

belong (be suitable or acceptable)

curve; twist; wind (extend in curves and turns)

jumble; mingle (be all mixed up or jumbled together)

promise (give grounds for expectations)

accept; take (be designed to hold or take)

clean (be cleanable)

draw (allow a draft)

wash (be capable of being washed)

balance (be in equilibrium)

come; hail (be a native of)

act (be suitable for theatrical performance)

test (show a certain characteristic when tested)

seem (appear to exist)

answer (be liable or accountable)

beat (be superior)

hold (have as a major characteristic)

count (have a certain value or carry a certain weight)

contain (be divisible by)

connect (be scheduled so as to provide continuing service, as in transportation)

sell (be responsible for the sale of)

sell (be approved of or gain acceptance)

kill (be fatal)

make (be suitable for)

adorn; beautify; deck; decorate; embellish; grace (be beautiful to look at)

consist (have its essential character; be comprised or contained in; be embodied in)

work (behave in a certain way when handled)

lubricate (have lubricating properties)

breathe (allow the passage of air through)

trim (be in equilibrium during a flight)

swing (have a certain musical rhythm)

osculate (be intermediate between two taxonomic groups)

retard (be delayed)

transplant (be transplantable)

cohere (have internal elements or parts logically connected so that aesthetic consistency results)

object (be averse to or express disapproval of)

stick (be or become fixed)

recognize (exhibit recognition for (an antigen or a substrate))

distribute (be mathematically distributive)

put out (be sexually active)

bake; broil (be very hot, due to hot weather or exposure to the sun)

drown; swim (be covered with or submerged in a liquid)

swim (be dizzy or giddy)

belong (be a member, adherent, inhabitant, etc. (of a group, organization, or place))

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

John will be angry

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be identical to; be someone or something

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

This is my house

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

What is behind this behavior?

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "be"):

stretch; stretch along (occupy a large, elongated area)

attend; go to (be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.)

fill; occupy (occupy the whole of)

dwell; inhabit; live; populate (be an inhabitant of or reside in)

inhabit (be present in)

keep one's distance; keep one's eyes off; keep one's hands off; stand back; stay away (stay clear of, avoid)

extend to; reach; touch (to extend as far as)

extend; go; lead; pass; run (stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point)

go; lead (lead, extend, or afford access)

continue; cover; extend (span an interval of distance, space or time)

extend; poke out; reach out (reach outward in space)

lie (be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position)

sit (be located or situated somewhere)

sit; sit around (be around, often idly or without specific purpose)

face (be opposite)

straddle (sit or stand astride of)

follow (be next)

center on (have as a center)

lie; rest (have a place in relation to something else)

belong; go (be in the right place or situation)

come (exist or occur in a certain point in a series)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

Have an existence, be extant

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

be; exist

Context example:

Is there a God?

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "be"):

come (be found or available)

preexist (exist beforehand or prior to a certain point in time)

kick about; kick around; knock about (be around; be alive or active)

coexist; cohabit (exist together)

indwell (to exist as an inner activating spirit, force, or principle)

hold; obtain; prevail (be valid, applicable, or true)

consist; dwell; lie; lie in (originate (in))

endanger; imperil; jeopardise; jeopardize; menace; peril; threaten (pose a threat to; present a danger to)

flow (be abundantly present)

distribute (be distributed or spread, as in statistical analyses)

dwell; inhabit (exist or be situated within)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

being (the state or fact of existing)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Happen, occur, take place

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

There was a lot of noise in the kitchen

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 6

Meaning:

Be identical or equivalent to

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

be; equal

Context example:

One dollar equals 1,000 rubles these days!

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "be"):

correspond; equate (be equivalent or parallel, in mathematics)

agree; check; correspond; fit; gibe; jibe; match; tally (be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics)

correspond; represent; stand for (take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to)

translate (be equivalent in effect)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Form or compose

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

be; comprise; constitute; make up; represent

Context example:

These few men comprise his entire army

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "be"):

make (constitute the essence of)

compose (form the substance of)

constitute; form; make (to compose or represent)

range; straddle (range or extend over; occupy a certain area)

fall into; fall under (be included in or classified as)

pose; present (introduce)

supplement (serve as a supplement to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 8

Meaning:

Work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

be; follow

Context example:

She is our resident philosopher

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "be"):

vet (work as a veterinarian)

cox (act as the coxswain, in a boat race)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 9

Meaning:

Represent, as of a character on stage

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

be; embody; personify

Context example:

Derek Jacobi was Hamlet

Hypernyms (to "be" is one way to...):

represent; stand for; symbolise; symbolize; typify (express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "be"):

body; personify (invest with or as with a body; give body to)

exemplify; represent (be characteristic of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 10

Meaning:

Spend or use time

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

I may be an hour

Hypernyms (to "be" is one way to...):

occupy; take; use up (require (time or space))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 11

Meaning:

Have life, be alive

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

be; live

Context example:

My grandfather lived until the end of war

Verb group:

endure; go; hold out; hold up; last; live; live on; survive (continue to live and avoid dying)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

being (a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently)

Sense 12

Meaning:

To remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

let her be

Hypernyms (to "be" is one way to...):

remain; rest; stay (stay the same; remain in a certain state)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 13

Meaning:

Be priced at

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

be; cost

Context example:

These shoes cost $100

Hypernyms (to "be" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "be"):

knock back; put back; set back (cost a certain amount)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

 Context examples 

Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

How slowly the time passes here, encompassed as I am by frost and snow!

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

And as the dim ball of the sun sank slowly into the northwest he covered every inch—and many times—of his and Bill's flight south before the downcoming winter.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

It was in the spring of the year 1894 that all London was interested, and the fashionable world dismayed, by the murder of the Honourable Ronald Adair under most unusual and inexplicable circumstances.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Fresh editions of every paper had been sent up by our news agent, only to be glanced over and tossed down into a corner.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But when the ends of the rope were placed in the stranger’s hands, he growled menacingly.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

For me, at least, there was no secret about the matter, for I was, in a way, a sharer in his alarms.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I had for dinner, or rather supper, a chicken done up some way with red pepper, which was very good but thirsty.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 1 (967 aa, ~105 kDa) is encoded by the human ADAMTS1 gene.

(A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease with Thrombospondin Motifs 1, NCI Thesaurus)

An aunt of my father's, and consequently a great-aunt of mine, of whom I shall have more to relate by and by, was the principal magnate of our family.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)