Word
being
Phoneticsbe·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbiɪŋ/
UK/bˈiːɪŋ/
Definitions
01a living creature
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a living person or creature.
n. a sentient or living entity, often used to refer to humans or hypothetical life forms.
“The film is about a strange being from another planet.”
“The philosopher argued that every sentient being deserves a basic level of respect and protection under the law.”
Synonyms
02existence
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Philosophy Academic
n. the state of existing or being alive.
n. the state or quality of having existence or objective reality.
日本語:存在※
“The ancient ruins have been in being for over two thousand years.”
“The debate centered on whether mathematical truths have a real being independent of human thought.”
Antonyms
03inner self
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Literary
n. your deepest nature or personality.
n. the essential nature or core character of a person.
“She felt a sense of peace in her whole being.”
“The trauma seemed to affect his very being, altering his outlook on life in ways his friends could barely recognize.”
04present participle of be
A2 · Elementary
v. the form of the verb 'to be' used for continuous actions.
v. the present participle and gerund of the copula 'be', used in progressive aspects and as a verbal noun.
“You are being very helpful today.”
“Despite being exhausted from the flight, the delegates insisted on attending the opening ceremony to show their support.”
Pitfall
I am being go to the store.
I am going to the store.
Do not use 'being' as a general helper for all verbs; it is specifically the -ing form of 'to be'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “being” in context.
Adjective
01. human being
“Every human being has the right to live in peace and dignity.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“They are in a category of prisoners who until now would have had to serve at least two-thirds of their terms before being considered for release.” “Why are 'human fridges' being sold in Japan?” “Another 18 flights were cancelled on Thursday 13th alone, with the Lufthansa group being one of the hardest hit.” “This is only the second time that 38C has been reached twice in the same year - the previous occasion being 2022.” Etymology
Originated 1250–1300 from Middle English being; see be + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Grammar
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/being
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0