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be
1[ bee; unstressed bee, bi ]
verb (used without object)
- to exist or live:
Shakespeare's “To be or not to be” is the ultimate question.
- to take place; happen; occur:
The wedding was last week.
- to occupy a place or position:
The book is on the table.
- to continue or remain as before:
Let things be.
- to belong; attend; befall:
May good fortune be with you.
- (used as a copula to connect the subject with its predicate adjective, or predicate nominative, in order to describe, identify, or amplify the subject):
Martha is tall. John is president. This is she.
- (used as a copula to introduce or form interrogative or imperative sentences):
Is that right? Be quiet! Don't be facetious.
auxiliary verb
- (used with the present participle of another verb to form the progressive tense):
I am waiting.
- (used with the present participle or infinitive of the principal verb to indicate future action):
She is visiting there next week. He is to see me today.
- (used with the past participle of another verb to form the passive voice):
The date was fixed. It must be done.
- (used in archaic or literary constructions with some intransitive verbs to form the perfect tense):
He is come. Agamemnon to the wars is gone.
verb (used with object)
- Informal. to say, declare, think, or feel (usually used to introduce reported speech or thought):
So I'm walking down my street yesterday, and I'm “Why is there a crowd in front of my house?”
Be
2- beryllium.
Bé.
3abbreviation for
- Baumé.
B/E
4- bill of exchange.
be-
5- a native English prefix formerly used in the formation of verbs:
become, besiege, bedaub, befriend.
B.E.
6abbreviation for
- Bachelor of Education.
- Bachelor of Engineering.
- Bank of England.
- bill of exchange.
- Board of Education.
BE
1abbreviation for
- bill of exchange
- (in the US) Board of Education
- Bachelor of Education
- Bachelor of Engineering
Bé
2abbreviation for
- Baumé
Be
3the chemical symbol for
- beryllium
B/E
4abbreviation for
- bill of exchange
be-
5prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives
- from nouns to surround completely; cover on all sides
befog
- from nouns to affect completely or excessively
bedazzle
- from nouns to consider as or cause to be
befriend
befool
- from nouns to provide or cover with
bejewel
- from verbs at, for, against, on, or over
berate
bewail
be
6/ biː; bɪ /
verb
- to have presence in the realm of perceived reality; exist; live
I think, therefore I am
not all that is can be understood
- used in the perfect or past perfect tenses only to pay a visit; go
have you been to Spain?
- to take place; occur
my birthday was last Thursday
- copula used as a linking verb between the subject of a sentence and its noun or adjective complement or complementing phrase. In this case be expresses the relationship of either essential or incidental equivalence or identity ( John is a man; John is a musician ) or specifies an essential or incidental attribute ( honey is sweet; Susan is angry ). It is also used with an adverbial complement to indicate a relationship of location in space or time ( Bill is at the office; the dance is on Saturday )
- takes a present participle forms the progressive present tense
the man is running
- takes a past participle forms the passive voice of all transitive verbs and (archaically) certain intransitive ones
I am done
a good film is being shown on television tonight
- takes an infinitive expresses intention, expectation, supposition, or obligation
the president is to arrive at 9.30
you are not to leave before I say so
- takes a past participle forms the perfect or past perfect tense of certain intransitive verbs of motion, such as go or come
the last train is gone
- be that as it maythe facts concerning (something) are of no importance
be
7the internet domain name for
- Belgium
Grammar Note
Word History and Origins
Origin of be1
Word History and Origins
Origin of be1
Origin of be2
Idioms and Phrases
- let be
Example Sentences
A church where two Gavin and Stacey scenes were filmed has seen a "flurry" of visitors ahead of the final episode.
Some 81% of lungs are rejected for transplantation because they are inflamed or in poor condition.
John Steinbeck's text, set in the 1930s, has been a mainstay of the English literature qualification for many years.
Two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Max Purcell has been provisionally suspended after admitting a breach of anti-doping rules.
Cross has been included in the ODI and Test squads for the series.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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