being

1 of 4

noun

be·​ing ˈbē(-i)ŋ 

1

a

: the quality or state of having existence

a social movement that came into being in the 1960s

artistic form comes into being only when two elements are successfully fused

—Carlos Lynes

b(1)

: something that is conceivable and hence capable of existing

(2)

: something that actually exists

(3)

: the totality of existing things

c

: conscious existence : life

2

: the qualities that constitute an existent thing : essence

I knew it was true in the core of my being.

especially : personality

3

: a living thing

sentient beings

a mythical being

especially : person

a very sexual being

being

2 of 4

adjective

: present

—used in the phrase for the time being

plans to remain single for the time being

being

3 of 4

conjunction

chiefly dialectal

: since, because

—usually used with as, as how, or that

being

4 of 4

present participle of be

Synonyms

Noun

• baby
• bird
• bod [British]
• body
• character
• cookie
• cooky
• creature
• customer
• devil
• duck
• egg
• face
• fish
• guy
• head
• human
• human being
• individual
• life
• man
• mortal
• party
• person
• personage
• scout
• slob
• sort
• soul
• specimen
• stiff
• thing
• wight

Conjunction

• 'cause
• as
• as long as
• because
• considering
• for
• inasmuch as
• now
• seeing
• since
• whereas

Examples of being in a Sentence

Noun

a social movement that was brought into being in the 1960s

I knew it was true in the core of my being.

Conjunction

being as how I paid for lunch, I'd appreciate it if you picked up the tab for dinner

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

However, the beings were unable to comprehend human emotions like love, adding a philosophical layer to the narrative. —Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 10 Dec. 2024

For the time being, Mangione will be held at the Huntingdon State Correctional Institution. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

My first instinct was to ask, ‘What does this higher being look like? —Calvin Tomkins, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Looking put together was simply part of his essential being. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from gerund of been be

Adjective

Middle English, from present participle of been be

Conjunction

from being entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Conjunction

1528, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing being

• all/other things being equal
• being watched
• come into being
• for the time being
• have a way of (being something or doing something)
• human being
• ill-being
• in/from the depths of someone's heart/soul/being
• play at being (something)
• well-being
• with every fiber of one's being

Kids Definition

being

noun

be·​ing

ˈbē-iŋ

1

: the state of having life or existence

2

: one that exists in fact or thought

3

: a living thing

especially : human being