be

first person present singular am · first person present singular 'm · first person past singular was · dialectal first person past singular 's · dialectal first person past singular were · present second person singular are · present second person singular 're · present second person singular art · present second person singular 'rt · past second person singular were · archaic past second person singular wast · archaic past second person singular wert · present singular third person is · present singular third person 's · archaic present singular third person beeth · archaic present singular third person bes

1. As an auxiliary verb:
   1. auxiliaryUsed with past participles of verbs to form the passive voice.

      The dog was saved by the boy.

      1 more example

      Study courses of Esperanto and Ido have been broadcast.

      1995, C. K. Ogden, Psyche: An Annual General and Linguistic Psychology 1920-1952, C. K. Ogden, →ISBN, page 13

   2. Used with present participles of verbs to form the continuous aspect.

      The woman is walking.

      5 more examples

      I shall be writing to you soon.

      We liked to chat while we were eating.

      I can't always be catering to your whimsies.

      I was being deadly serious when I made that suggestion.

      In the possibility of radio uses of a constructed language — and such experiments are proving successful—vast sums of money and untold social forces may be involved.

      1995, C. K. Ogden, Psyche: An Annual General and Linguistic Psychology 1920-1952, C. K. Ogden, →ISBN, page 13

   3. Used with to-infinitives of verbs to express intent, obligation, appropriateness, or relative future occurrence.

      I am to leave tomorrow.

      4 more examples

      They are to stay here until I return.

      I'd been to've been ambassador, but fell seriously ill.

      How were they to know the whole exercise was a ruse?

      They were to have been married overseas but COVID forced a change of plans.

   4. Used with past participles of certain intransitive verbs to form the perfect aspect.

      He is gone.

      5 more examples

      He is finished.

      He is come.

      They are not yet come back.

      c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], page 133

      And he cryed mightily with a strõg voyce, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of deuils[…]

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 18:2

      ‘I wish that he were come to me, / For he will come,’ she said.

      1850, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, The Blessed Damozel, ll.67-68

   5. CaribbeanIrelandauxiliaryAfrican-American VernacularTo tend to do, often do; marks the habitual aspect.

      1996, David Sheffield, Barry W. Blaustein, Tom Shadyac and Steve Oedekerk, screenplay of The Nutty Professor Women be shoppin’! You cannot stop a woman from shoppin’!

      2 more examples

      Niggas be tellin' these bitches 'bout business

      2020, Moneybagg Yo, Thug Cry

      I be fingering my pussy till my fingers turn soggy; Yeah, I love masturbation; that’s my favorite fucking hobby; I be spitting on my pussy; yeah, I gotta keep it soppy; I be gooning out in public; ain’t nobody gonna stop me.

      2025, LONDON, “Soggy!”, in Soggy!

2. As a copulative verb:
   1. with dummy subjectTo exist.

      There is just one woman in town who can help us.

      4 more examples

      (or, dialectally:) It is just one woman in town who can help us.

      Some men there are loue not a gaping Pigge: / Some that are mad, if they behold a Cat: / And others, when the bag-pipe sings i’th nose, / Cannot containe their Vrine for affection.

      c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 178

      "There is a sort of domestic enjoyment to be known even in a crowd, and this you had."

      1817 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter IX, in Persuasion; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume IV, London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC, page 170

      "There has been lots of commentary on who is staying and who is staying out and this weekend will be the real test," said one senior media buying agency executive who has pulled the advertising for one major client.

      2011 July 6, Mark Sweney, The Guardian

   2. Used to declare the subject and object identical or equivalent.

      Hi, I’m Jim.

      4 more examples

      3 times 5 is fifteen.

      These four are the ones going to the quarter-finals.

      François Mitterrand was president of France from 1981 to 1995.

      This is how we do it.

   3. Used to indicate that a predicate nominal applies to the subject.

      Rex is a dog.

      2 more examples

      A dog is an animal.

      Dogs are animals.

   4. Used to indicate that the subject has the qualities described by an adjective or prepositional phrase.

      The sky is blue.

      1 more example

      Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remooue this cup from me: neuerthelesse, not my will, but thine be done.

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 22:42

   5. Used to indicate that the subject has the qualities described by a noun or noun phrase.

      The sky is a deep blue today.

   6. Used to link a subject to a measurement.

      I am 75 kilograms.

      2 more examples

      This building is three hundred years old.

      He’s about 6 feet tall.

   7. Used to state the age of a subject in years.

      I’m 20 (years old).

   8. Used to indicate the time of day.

      It is almost eight (o’clock).

      2 more examples

      It’s 8:30 [read eight-thirty] in Tokyo.

      What time is it there? It’s night.

   9. Used to indicate passage of time since the occurrence of an event.

      It had been six days since his departure, when I received a letter from him.

      1 more example

      It has been three years since my grandmother died. (similar to "My grandmother died three years ago", but emphasizes the intervening period)

   10. pastrareregionalUsed to link two noun clauses: a day of the week, recurring date, month, or other specific time (on which the event of the main clause took place) and a period of time indicating how long ago that day was.First known use 15th c.

       I saw her Monday was a week: I saw her a week ago last Monday (a week before last Monday).

       5 more examples

       On the morning of Sunday was fortnight before Christmas: on the morning of the Sunday that was two weeks before the Sunday prior to Christmas.

       Miss Lardner (whom you have seen at her cousin Biddulph's) saw you at St James's church on Sunday was fortnight.

       1748, [Samuel Richardson], Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume V, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 97

       And so, without as much as to return home to furnish myself for such a journey, volens, nolens, they prevailed, or rather forced me to come to Dublin to confer with those colonels, and that was the last August was twelvemonth.

       1770, Historical Memoirs of the Irish Rebellion, in the year 1641 […] In a letter to Walter Harris, Esq; [By John Curry.] The fourth edition, with corrections throughout the whole, and large additions, by the author, Ireland, page 186

       That they were present at the Election in August was Twelvemonth, at which there was the strictest Scrutiny that ever they saw in their Lives, by all the Four Candidates.

       1803, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, Journals of the House of Commons, page 249

       Allow me to recommend some of the kipper—It was John Hay that catched it Saturday was three weeks.

       1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], chapter V, in Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC, pages 79-80

   11. To pass or spend (time).

       and when he compares both sides, he will be some time at a loss to fix any determination.

       1844, Robert Chambers, Cyclopedia of English Literature: A History, page 289

       1 more example

       The bag was crisp with ice, and with my fingerless gloves I was a bit of time unholing the buttons. But I got the flap turned back at last, and there was Ryan grey-faced and stark.

       1907, C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne, McTodd, page 232

   12. To take a period of time.

       Dinner will be ten minutes.

       1 more example

       It was an hour before he returned.

   13. impersonaloftenUsed to indicate ambient conditions such as weather, light, noise or air quality.

       Why is it so dark in here?

       1 more example

       It is hot in Arizona, but it is not usually humid.

   14. especiallyirregulardynamic / lexical beTo exist or behave in a certain way.

       Just be yourself.

       4 more examples

       When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.

       2006 October 9, Kristin Newman (writer), Barney Stinson (character), How I Met Your Mother, season 2, episode 1

       "What do we do?" "We be ourselves."

       Why is he being nice to me?

       Dad is taking a nap, so we're all being quiet.

3. As an intransitive lexical verb:
   1. literaryusuallyTo exist; to have real existence, to be alive.

      That was the week that was.

      5 more examples

      The Universe has no explanation: it just is.

      This is something that was meant to be.

      Rachel wepynge ffor her chyldren / and wolde nott be comforted becauſe they were not.

      1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew ij:[18], folio iij, recto

      To be, or not to be: that is the question: / Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, / And by opposing end them?

      c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], page 265

      […]it were great sottishnesse, and apparent false-hood, to say, that that is which is not yet in being, or that already hath ceased from being.

      1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 351

   2. To remain undisturbed in a certain state or situation.

      Let them be for a few hours.

      1 more example

      Leave us be until the guests arrive.

   3. To occupy a place.

      The cup is on the table.

   4. To occur, to take place.

      When will the meeting be?

   5. Elliptical form of "be here", "go to and return from" or similar, also extending to certain other senses of "go".

      We've been about twenty miles.

      4 more examples

      The postman has been today, but my tickets have still not yet come.

      I have been to Spain many times.

      I have terrible constipation – I haven't been for several days.

      I’ve been into town this morning.

1. alternativedateddialectalpossiblyAlternative form of by. Also found in compounds, especially oaths, e.g. begorra begad and bejesus.

   Aw teuk me seat be day an' neet.

   1870, Joseph Philip Robson, Evangeline: The Spirit of Progress, section 332

   5 more examples

   O ful tru un pertikler akeawnt o... th' greyt Eggshibishun. Be o felley fro Rachde.

   1851, Oliver Ormerod, Felley fro Rachde

   Go thy way vorth be tha vootsteps uv tha vlock.

   1860, Henry Baird, The Song of Solomon in the Devonshire Dialect, i 8

   Fetchin' it yan... be a round about rooad.

   1870, Roger Piketah, Forness Folk, section 44

   Like a leeaf be firm decree / Mun fade an' fall.

   1878, John Castillo, Poems in the North Yorkshire Dialect, section 35

   ‘I'll meet you agin to-morra,’ says he, ‘be the chapel-door.’

   1885, Alfred Lord Tennyson, To-morrow

plural bes

1. The name of the Cyrillic script letter Б / б

plural BEs

1. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of Bachelor of Engineering.
2. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of breast expansion.

1. abbreviationAbbreviation of Berlin: a state of Germany.
2. abbreviationAbbreviation of Bengkulu: a province of Indonesia.
3. abbreviationinitialismhuman sciencesInitialism of Black English.
4. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Buddhist Era.

   For quotations using this term, see Citations:BE.

1. abbreviationinitialismnot comparablemedicineInitialism of board-eligible.