be

/bi/

/bi/

Other forms: was; is; are; were; been; being; am

To be is to exist, or to take place. As Hamlet best put it: "To be or not to be, that is the question."

The verb be is one of the most frequently used words in English, and it often takes the form of am, are, were, or was. When you make plans to meet someone later, you could say, "I'll be on the steps in front of the library," and when you talk about your goals, you might confess, "I want to be a movie star." It's a verb with a complicated history, stemming mainly from the Old English bēon, "be, exist, or happen."

Definitions of be

1. verb

   have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
   “John is rich”

   “This is not a good answer”

   types:

   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

   stink

   be extremely bad in quality or in one's performance

   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

   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

   reel, swim

   be dizzy or giddy

   belong

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

   squint

   partly close one's eyes, as when hit by direct blinding light

   have

   suffer from; be ill with

   choke, gag, strangle, suffocate

   struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake

   freeze

   be cold

   swelter

   be uncomfortably hot

   ail

   be ill or unwell

   feel like a million, feel like a million dollars

   be in excellent health and spirits

   suffocate

   feel uncomfortable for lack of fresh air

   keep out

   remain outside

   sit tight

   maintain the same position; wait it out

   carry, extend

   continue or extend

   demoralise, demoralize

   confuse or put into disorder

   amaze, baffle, beat, bewilder, dumbfound, flummox, get, gravel, mystify, nonplus, perplex, pose, puzzle, stick, stupefy, vex

   be puzzling or bewildering to

   work out

   be calculated

   come in, come out, place

   take a place in a competition; often followed by an ordinal

   come

   have a certain priority

   determine

   fix in scope; fix the boundaries of

   predicate

   make the (grammatical) predicate in a proposition

   famish, hunger, starve

   be hungry; go without food

   cry

   demand immediate action

   kneel

   rest one's weight on one's knees

   stand, stand up

   be standing; be upright

   bubble over, overflow, spill over

   overflow with a certain feeling

   ferment

   be in an agitated or excited state

   sizzle

   seethe with deep anger or resentment

   make

   appear to begin an activity

   cut

   give the appearance or impression of

   feel

   produce a certain impression

   pass off

   be accepted as something or somebody in a false character or identity

   sound

   appear in a certain way

   come across

   be perceived in a certain way; make a certain impression

   close

   cause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktop

   instantiate

   represent by an instance

   disorient, disorientate

   cause to be lost or disoriented

   beam, glow, radiate, shine

   have a complexion with a strong bright color, such as red or pink

   gleam, glint, glisten, glitter, shine

   be shiny, as if wet

   seem

   appear to one's own mind or opinion

   agree

   be agreeable or suitable

   mortgage

   put up as security or collateral

   stay together, stick together

   be loyal to one another, especially in times of trouble

   speak for

   be a spokesperson for

   tutor

   act as a guardian to someone

   redefine

   give a new or different definition to

   ensue, result

   issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end

   abide, bide, stay

   dwell

   lurch, prowl

   loiter about, with no apparent aim

   hold over

   continue a term of office past the normal period of time

   outnumber

   be larger in number

   average, average out

   amount to or come to an average, without loss or gain

   press, weigh

   to be oppressive or burdensome

   have it coming

   deserve (either good or bad)

   die hard, endure, persist, prevail, run

   continue to exist

   fit, go

   be the right size or shape; fit correctly or as desired

   hang by a hair, hang by a thread

   depend on a small thing or be at risk

   jump, jump out, leap out, stand out, stick out

   be highly noticeable

   lift, rear, rise

   rise up

   loom

   come into view indistinctly, often threateningly

   stand

   be tall; have a height of; copula

   knock back, put back, set back

   cost a certain amount

   stand

   be in effect; be or remain in force

   weigh

   have a certain weight

   endure, last

   persist for a specified period of time

   stand

   remain inactive or immobile

   pullulate, swarm, teem

   be teeming, be abuzz

   take kindly to

   be willing or inclined to accept

   suffer

   be given to

   scale

   measure by or as if by a scale

   retail

   be sold at the retail level

   trade

   be traded at a certain price or under certain conditions

   go

   be ranked or compare

   feel

   be felt or perceived in a certain way

   gravitate

   move toward

   opalesce

   exhibit a play of colors like that of an opal

   keep, stay fresh

   fail to spoil or rot

   tie in

   be in connection with something relevant

   circumvolute

   wind or turn in volutions, especially in an inward spiral, as of snail

   spiral

   form a spiral

   snake

   form a snake-like pattern

   brood, bulk large, hover, loom

   hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing

   make

   add up to

   ornament

   be an ornament to
2. verb

   have an existence, be extant
   “Is there a God?”

   synonyms: exist

   types:

   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

   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

   coexist

   coexist peacefully, as of nations

   co-occur, coincide, cooccur

   go with, fall together
3. verb

   have life, be alive
   “Our great leader is no more”

   synonyms: live

   endure, go, hold out, hold up, last, live, live on, survive

   continue to live through hardship or adversity
4. verb

   form or compose
   “This money is my only income”

   “The stone wall was the backdrop for the performance”

   synonyms: comprise, constitute, make up, represent

   types:

   make

   constitute the essence of

   compose

   form the substance of

   constitute, form, make

   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

   chelate

   form a chelate, in chemistry

   spread-eagle

   stretch over

   add

   constitute an addition
5. verb

   work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
   “He is a herpetologist”

   “She is our resident philosopher”

   synonyms: follow

   types:

   vet

   work as a veterinarian

   cox

   act as the coxswain, in a boat race
6. verb

   be identical or equivalent to
   synonyms: equal

   types:

   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

   consist

   be consistent in form, tenor, or character; be congruous

   look

   accord in appearance with

   answer

   match or correspond

   coincide

   be the same

   align

   be or come into adjustment with

   correlate

   bear a reciprocal or mutual relation

   parallel

   be parallel to

   duplicate, parallel, twin

   duplicate or match

   square

   be compatible with

   bear out, corroborate, support, underpin

   support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm

   resemble

   appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to

   conform to, fit, meet

   satisfy a condition or restriction

   homologize

   be homologous

   befit, beseem, suit

   accord or comport with

   accord, agree, comport, concord, consort, fit in, harmonise, harmonize

   be harmonious or consistent with

   pattern

   form a pattern

   adhere, hew

   be compatible or in accordance with

   rhyme, rime

   be similar in sound, especially with respect to the last syllable
7. verb

   be identical to; be someone or something
   “The president of the company is John Smith”

   “This is my house”
8. verb

   represent, as of a character on stage
   “Derek Jacobi was Hamlet”

   synonyms: embody, personify

   types:

   body, personify

   invest with or as with a body; give body to

   exemplify, represent

   be characteristic of

   type of:

   emblematize, represent, stand for, symbolise, symbolize, typify

   express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol
9. verb

   occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere
   “"Where is my umbrella?" "The toolshed is in the back”

   “What is behind this behavior?”

   types:

   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

   inhabit or live in; be an inhabitant of

   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

   tenant

   occupy as a tenant

   neighbor, neighbour

   live or be located as a neighbor

   sit in

   attend as a visitor

   worship

   attend religious services

   lodge in, occupy, reside

   live (in a certain place)

   crowd

   fill or occupy to the point of overflowing

   take up

   take up time or space

   domicile, domiciliate, reside, shack

   make one's home in a particular place or community

   people

   furnish with people

   overpopulate

   cause to have too great a population

   cohabit, live together, shack up

   share living quarters; usually said of people who are not married and live together as a couple

   lodge

   be a lodger; stay temporarily

   bivouac, camp, camp out, encamp, tent

   live in or as if in a tent

   infest

   live on or in a host, as of parasites

   infest, invade, overrun

   occupy in large numbers or live on a host

   nest

   inhabit a nest, usually after building

   board, room

   live and take one's meals at or in

   cross, span, sweep, traverse

   to cover or extend over an area or time period

   come

   extend or reach

   radiate, ray

   extend or spread outward from a center or focus or inward towards a center

   sweep

   cover the entire range of

   overlap

   extend over and cover a part of

   overspread, spread

   spread across or over

   ridge

   extend in ridges

   constellate, dot, stud

   scatter or intersperse like dots or studs

   reach into

   run into or up to

   nestle

   lie in a sheltered position

   intervene

   be placed or located between other things or extend between spaces and events

   top

   be at the top of or constitute the top or highest point

   mediate

   occupy an intermediate or middle position or form a connecting link or stage between two others

   ride

   lie moored or anchored

   lap

   lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another

   focalise, focalize, localise, localize

   concentrate on a particular place or spot

   slant

   lie obliquely

   precede, predate

   come before

   underlie

   lie underneath

   cap, crest

   lie at the top of

   face, front, look

   be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to

   back

   be in back of

   flank

   be located at the sides of something or somebody

   head

   be in the front of or on top of

   command, dominate, overlook, overtop

   look down on

   line, run along

   be in line with; form a line along

   orient, point

   be oriented

   look across, look out on, look out over, overlook

   be oriented in a certain direction

   go deep, go far

   extend in importance or range
10. verb

    happen, occur, take place
    “this was during the visit to my parents' house”

    “There were two hundred people at his funeral”

    “There was a lot of noise in the kitchen”
11. verb

    spend or use time
    “I may be an hour”

    type of:

    occupy, take, use up

    require (time or space)
12. verb

    to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form
    “let her be”

    type of:

    remain, rest, stay

    stay the same; remain in a certain state
13. verb

    be priced at
    synonyms: cost

    types:

    knock back, put back, set back

    cost a certain amount