being
1 of 4noun
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
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 4adjective
: present —used in the phrase for the time being
plans to remain single for the time being
being
3 of 4conjunction
chiefly dialectal
: since, because —usually used with as, as how, or that
being
4 of 4present 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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun a social movement that was brought into being in the 1960s I knew it was true in the core of my being.
Recent Examples on the WebKatherine Drabiak, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2023 Research has shown that music and reminiscence therapy may improve the psychological and emotional well-being of people with dementia. —Valerie Debenedette, Verywell Health, 1 Feb. 2023 Amid the emotionally taxing affair, Sandra also worries about the well-being of her daughter, Linn (Camille Leban Martins, delightfully plucky), whose sudden limp appears to be psychosomatic. —Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2023 Much less attention is paid to social concerns like the well-being of workers in global supply chains. —Michael Posner, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023 Love that values the well-being of others above itself. —Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 22 Jan. 2023 Now an associate nurse manager on Stevens’ team, Noguerra is invested in monitoring the well-being of his team, especially the newest hires. —Dallas News, 13 Jan. 2023 The well-being of the Walshe children weighs heavily on the minds of many. —Ivy Scott, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Jan. 2023 In other words, Bhutan has attempted to rearrange the measurement of a nation around the well-being of its citizens rather than their economic output. —Heather Lanier, Longreads, 10 Jan. 2023 See More
Noun
Ethical issues Civil commitment aims to improve the well-being of individuals and communities. —Katherine Drabiak, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2023 Research has shown that music and reminiscence therapy may improve the psychological and emotional well-being of people with dementia. —Valerie Debenedette, Verywell Health, 1 Feb. 2023 Amid the emotionally taxing affair, Sandra also worries about the well-being of her daughter, Linn (Camille Leban Martins, delightfully plucky), whose sudden limp appears to be psychosomatic. —Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2023 Much less attention is paid to social concerns like the well-being of workers in global supply chains. —Michael Posner, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023 Love that values the well-being of others above itself. —Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 22 Jan. 2023 Now an associate nurse manager on Stevens’ team, Noguerra is invested in monitoring the well-being of his team, especially the newest hires. —Dallas News, 13 Jan. 2023 The well-being of the Walshe children weighs heavily on the minds of many. —Ivy Scott, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Jan. 2023 In other words, Bhutan has attempted to rearrange the measurement of a nation around the well-being of its citizens rather than their economic output. —Heather Lanier, Longreads, 10 Jan. 2023 See More 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
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
being 1 of 3
adjective
as in breathing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- breathing
- existing
- living
- existent
- modern
- present
- recent
- contemporary
- newfangled
- modernistic
- mod
- new
- ultramodern
- current
- extant
- ongoing
- supermodern
- up-to-date
- space-age
- instant
- new-fashioned
- immediate
- present-day
- red-hot
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- coming
- future
- over
- terminated
- unborn
- up
- ended
- finished
- through
- done
- completed
- old
- concluded
- past
- obsolete
- ancient
- former
- dated
- archaic
- antiquated
- antique
- outworn
- antediluvian
- erstwhile
- fusty
- musty
- bygone
- passé
- ago
- oldfangled
- noncontemporary
- old-time
- out-of-date
- old-fashioned
being
2 of 3noun
1
as in person
a member of the human race no one has the right to enslave another being Synonyms & Similar Words
- person
- life
- man
- guy
- creature
- thing
- human
- individual
- human being
- sort
- bird
- soul
- body
- party
- baby
- customer
- fish
- mortal
- character
- face
- stiff
- duck
- specimen
- egg
- devil
- scout
- personage
- personality
- cookie
- fellow
- cooky
- wight
- bod
- self
- head
- slob
- somebody
- homo
- brother
- neighbor
- son of man
- celebrity
- humanoid
- hominid
- fellowman
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- animal
- beast
- brute
- critter
- beastie
2
as in entity
one that has a real and independent existence new parents are typically in awe at having created this separate being Synonyms & Similar Words
- entity
- object
- reality
- something
- thing
- substance
- individual
- subject
- commodity
- existent
- body
- matter
- individuality
- material
- integer
- quantity
- stuff
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonentity
3
as in essence
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is music is such a large part of her being that she could never give up performing Synonyms & Similar Words
- essence
- nature
- substance
- soul
- manifestation
- stuff
- heart
- aspect
- essentiality
- quintessence
- incarnation
- personification
- property
- core
- center
- attribute
- spirit
- feature
- quiddity
- name of the game
- epitome
- marrow
- seat
- keynote
- pith
- kernel
- alpha and omega
- embodiment
- gist
- nub
being
3 of 3verb
1
as in living
to have life stories that begin with the familiar line "once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden" Synonyms & Similar Words
- living
- existing
- ruling
- breathing
- subsisting
- surviving
- flourishing
- kicking
- leading
- continuing
- persisting
- enduring
- moving
- abiding
- thriving
- prospering
- lasting
- holding on
- running on
- keeping (on)
- holding up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dying
- departing
- succumbing
- disappearing
- perishing
- evaporating
- vanishing
- expiring
- ending
- stopping
- ceasing
- quitting
- passing away
- discontinuing
- subsiding
- dying (down)
- ebbing
- waning
- moderating
- desisting
- abating
- letting up
2
as in sitting
to occupy a place or location we'll be there waiting for you Synonyms & Similar Words
- sitting
- standing
- lying
- remaining
- staying
- residing
- waiting
- resting
- bearing
- awaiting
- posting
- overlooking
- dwelling
- commanding
- hanging around
- sticking around
- tarrying
- stationing
3
as in ranking
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes our school's football team is first in its division Synonyms & Similar Words
- ranking
- standing
- placing
- grading
- rating
- counting
- seeding
- classifying
- separating
- grouping
- classing
- setting
- sorting
- installing
- categorizing
- compartmentalizing
- instating
- codifying
4
as in happening
to take place the party is next Saturday Synonyms & Similar Words
- happening
- coming
- occurring
- doing
- passing
- cooking
- chancing
- transpiring
- coming down
- befalling
- coming off
- coming about
- happing
- going down
- betiding
- going on
- rising
- developing
- proceeding
- arising
- resulting
- coming to pass
- materializing
- intervening
- breaking
- following
- coming up
- turning out
- falling out
- shaping (up)
- going off
- cropping (up)
- springing (up)