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being

[bee-ing]

Example Sentences Origin

noun

the fact of existing; existence (as opposed to nonexistence).

conscious, mortal existence; life: Our being is as an instantaneous flash of light in the midst of eternal night.

substance or nature: of such a being as to arouse fear.

something that exists: inanimate beings.

a living thing: strange, exotic beings that live in the depths of the sea.

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a human being; person: the most beautiful being you could imagine.

(initial capital letter

) God.

Philosophy.

that which has actuality either materially or in idea.

absolute existence in a complete or perfect state, lacking no essential characteristic; essence.

COLLAPSE

conjunction

Nonstandard. since; because; considering that (often followed by as, as how, or that): Being it's midnight, let's go home. Being as how you cooked supper, I'll do the dishes.

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Being is always a great word to know.

So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:

a fool or simpleton; ninny.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

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Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English; see be, -ing¹

Related forms

non·be·ing, noun, adjective

su·per·be·ing, noun

Example Sentences

Then they said that not enough money was being offered along with the prisoners.

Being a young female scientist meant being insulted, patronized, and intensely criticized with alarming frequency.

We cannot risk politicians fighting tooth and nail to stay in office for fear of being prosecuted.

EXPAND

Then they said that not enough money was being offered along with the prisoners.

Being a young female scientist meant being insulted, patronized, and intensely criticized with alarming frequency.

We cannot risk politicians fighting tooth and nail to stay in office for fear of being prosecuted.

Robots are being created that can think, act, and relate to humans.

New research linking chronic fatigue syndrome to retrovirus is released after being held by a journal.

Great photography is about being in the right place at the right time.

Despite being misnamed, it remains a precious holiday ingredient.

Instead of being satisfied with the squeaks, they explored the other tubes and discovered all sorts of hidden surprises.

For some, keeping secrets is an essential component of being chic.

Being the best at something does not mean that doing that thing is the best way to use your scarce economic resources.

Some are being fished in the wild so much that they cannot reproduce enough to survive.

Certainly blood flow variability within the brain is being used as a primary indicator of specific brain activity.

People tend to be on best behavior when they're being watched.

It's a great annual flower, without being all sunshine and rainbows.

Now, there's a new wave of reconnaissance bots being prepared for combat.

He shuts the debate team in lockers and makes them debate the merits of being let out.

But being able to feel a bit better-off than someone else makes it a bit more bearable.

Years ago scientists discovered that stratospheric ozone is being eaten away by human activity.

No sense in anyone being afraid to blink in order to thwart a tidal wave.

Only a few words were omitted due to being inaudible.

The variety to plant depends on the soil: being enlarged roots, carrot more add to my plant list.

In other words, any whale being killed in the open ocean today is being killed for absolutely no good reason at all.

Some of us have discovered the truth that nature, animals, and every single being on this planet is made of the same elements.

It isn't a matter of being against nuclear for any philosophical reason.

Nobody spoke about their furniture being destroyed and little mention was made of hairballs and cat hair everywhere.

Even being trampled by kids or dogs or run over by a lawnmower doesn't faze them for long.

If you think you're being watched, you're probably right.

Their habitat is shrinking and being degraded due to development.

The other point about the absurdity of being loaded for bear every time you go into the wilderness is also good.

In addition to being data-laden, though, these images are simply wonderful to behold.

Poultry burgers have a reputation for being dry and bland.

Being smart is good, but having everyone know you are smart is better.

The llanos is being eyed by both the timber and oil industries.

Being allowed to comment this article gives me an illusion of control over it.

Both you and the sailor would have equal claim to being right-the motion of the rock is relative to whoever is observing it.

Being locally native, or degree of water, are a big part of my definition.

Promotional ads were being shot, and internal beta testers were thrilled.

There's a difference between being unobtrusive and unfriendly.

Being a woman in a ancient chinese palace cannot be anything cool.

Being eco-conscious doesn't have to mean giving up beauty.

She said she wanted to raise more awareness about how the technology is being used for stealth surveillance.

Finally, ask them to explore and explain what is being done about the current situation.

Thankfully abused victims are being rescued an consciousnes is being raised.

Being unusually delicate, it's often also slightly bruised.

Humans typically catch rabies after being bitten by an infected animal, usually a dog-and the infection usually stops there.

Also his not being fired with all of the offences prior to that fateful night indicates that he was connected to someone high up.

Instead of being arranged as an encyclopedia, plants are organized by use.

His father thought that being any type of artist was stupid.

Tentlike protective structures are being erected in various parts of the city.

And buckwheat sprouts are being studied for their anti-inflammatory potential.

Although rare, other such incidents of divers being left behind in the open ocean have happened.

So sad that humans would interperet such as their being stubborn rather than as a show of intelligence.

Noncompliance will result in disqualification and an alternate winner being selected.

As the crew prepared to descend back to earth, they took a moment to reflect on being part of the final flight.

If it's growing satisfactorily, its nutrient needs are being met.

Being stuck in an elevator is never fun, but by and large when riding in one that's the biggest inconvenience you can expect.

We loved them in the garden, and now purple carrots are being put to use as natural dye.

It's all being used for growing the next season's worth of food.

Before being eaten they must be allowed to ripen further to lose their puckery astringency and become as soft and sweet as jelly.

Sudden leaf shedding is a common problem, often resulting from plant being moved to a new location.

California native plants have the reputation of being poor mixers.

And you thought being a federal bureaucrat was boring.

Lebedev is being investigated for throwing a punch at a fellow entrepreneur on a prime-time television talk show, prosecutors.

Instead, immigration is being discouraged-even that of skilled individuals.

From old-world primates to patch-nosed salamanders, new creatures are being discovered every.

In a few cases, it also meant being physically and.

Just about every creature has to worry about being eaten by predators that are bigger, stronger, or faster.

Add another species to the long list of plants and animals being eaten out of existence so men can try to get it up in the.

Being watched by a photograph of staring eyes can be enough encouragement to behave, follow orders or do the right thing, a.

Still, traditional higher education is not known for being nimble.

But a project to repair spinal cords is being shelved.

New studiessuggest that the stress of being poor has a staggeringly harmful influence on health.

Imagine being alone on the ocean for five or ten weeks, sailing in snow, ice and spray cruel as needles.

They have a difficult time psychologically coping with the experience of being completely alone.

But being treated as pariahs scarred almost all the children he observed, even the smartest and best-behaved, he says.

Riskiest, because the chance of being misunderstood is the highest.

With hundreds of nanoproducts currently being tested in humans, recommendations aim to safeguard trial participants.

Maybe that's because he has had time to get used to being famous.

Despite being an unmanned scale model, the test pilots who fly it say all the challenges of experimental flight are still there.

Renza apologized for being so slow to thank the club for the hand-knitted sweater he had been sent a month earlier.

If your partner has a strange knack of being able to pick out all the right perfumes, this may not be a good sign at all.

And governments can't control the trade if they don't know how many sharks are being taken from their waters.

From climate change to herbicide pollution, it's not easy being an amphibian.

There was something so special about her being there.

Bosses for life aren't used to being down in the polls.

Its amazing how much misinformation is being broadcast on this thread.

Turns out there is such a thing as being too young and too thin.

New research underlines the wisdom of being absorbed in what you do.

The possible applications of this work are as eclectic as the research being carried on here.

These are hotweather plants that do not gain from being planted early.

Voters are also being given the option of using a pointer tool to make their selections instead of using their fingers.

Instead, scholars are being denied access to millions of books.

Arctic ice continued its decline this winter, with hardy old ice increasingly being replaced with.

Researchers must purge e-mail in-boxes daily of threatening correspondence, simply part of the job of being a climate scientist.

Everything about him was against his being a powerful speaker.

If you simply ban trolls-kicking them off your board-you nurture their curdled sense of being an oppressed truth-speaker.

That's also a useful life skill for being a junior scientist with aspirations of becoming a senior scientist.

Solar energy has the advantage of being safe and having low enviornmental impact.

He might get in a little bit of trouble sometimes with his colleagues for being a little bit willing to go out on.

Young ears need young tunes and there is a plethora of music being produced every day that caters to those young ears.

When asked the meaning of being human, they respond with ten thousand different voices.

Besides being primitive, a pinhole camera is cheap, and it almost guarantees an unusual result.

The mirror provides a view of the courtyard and gives the room the illusion of being open on both sides.

But there are shady characters being caught, despite all that.

Have students identify the different creatures that inhabit the ecosystems being monitored by these two programs.

People think of many things, even numbers, as being either male or female.

Children are being smothered by virtual entertainment and controlled environments.

What people now understand as being unethical research was not always the product of malevolent intentions.

For instance people being tested, for the body to respond to drugs such as antibiotics.

We all too often define young people as being positive because of what they're not doing.

Read about what's being done to protect many plant species that provide our food.

The psychopath is obsessed with control even if they give the impression of being helpless.

More importantly, the timeless works he created are still being made available in bookstores and revisited on cinema screens.

Though clear water would seem to put the fish in danger of being seen by predators, overstory trees conceal the pond.

Invasive species are being introduced from exotic landscaping features being planted around homes.

Just what evolutionary pressures did in the dinosaurs, though, is still being debated.

It's flash-frozen shortly after being caught, so it can be even fresher.

Others are being farmed in ways that are not environmentally friendly.

He also showed signs of being self-aware: he could recognize himself in a mirror.

Moreover, being part of the nightshade family, those seed pods are actually poisonous.

And the region is producing water faster than the protective layer is being destroyed.

The mixture is boiled and allowed to set before being molded into a loaf, sliced up and finally pan-fried until golden brown.

But here you are with the squawking gulls, watching a world being born.

People reported being happiest when engaged in what they were doing versus allowing their minds to wander.

Some patients describe dizziness not as a sensation in their head, but rather as a feeling of being off-balance when walking.

Then spray adhesive to the flower, being sure to cover the entire surface.

Our fresh-tasting versions are satisfying without being heavy.

Being a woman is no longer a pre-existing condition.

Imagine being present at the birth of a new industry.

Eruç's not bothered by the hard work or even being blown the wrong direction.

Being eco-friendly includes recycling, but there are other ways to guard the planet's health.

COLLAPSE

Dictionary.com Unabridged

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.

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(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.

COLLAPSE

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.

10.

(used with the past participle of another verb to form the passive voice): The date was fixed. It must be done.

11.

(used in archaic or literary constructions with some intransitive verbs to form the perfect tense): He is come. Agamemnon to the wars is gone.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English been, Old English bēon (bēo- (akin to Old Frisian, Old High German bim, German bin, Old Saxon bium, biom (I) am, Old English, Old High German, Old Saxon būan, Old Norse būa reside, Latin fuī (I) have been, Greek phy- grow, become, Old Irish boí (he) was, Sanskrit bhávati (he) becomes, is, Lithuanian búti to be, OCS byti, Persian būd was)) + -n infinitive suffix. See am, is, are¹, was, were

Can be confused: be, bee.

Usage note
See me.

Link To being

Collins

World English Dictionary

being (ˈbiːɪŋ)

—n
1.	the state or fact of existing; existence
2.	essential nature; self: she put her whole being into the part
3.	something that exists or is thought to exist, esp something that cannot be assigned to any category: a being from outer space
4.	a person; human being
5.	Compare becoming (in the philosophy of Aristotle) actuality

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

O.E. beon, beom, bion "be, exist, come to be, become," from P.Gmc. *beo-, *beu-. This "b-root" is from PIE base *bheu-, *bhu- "grow, come into being, become," and in addition to the words in English it yielded German present first and second person sing. (bin, bist, from O.H.G. bim "I am," bist "thou

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art"), L. perf. tenses of esse (fui "I was," etc.), O.C.S. byti "be," Gk. phu- "become," O.Ir. bi'u "I am," Lith. bu'ti "to be," Rus. byt' "to be," etc. It also is behind Skt. bhavah "becoming," bhavati "becomes, happens," bhumih "earth, world."

The modern verb in its entirety represents the merger of two once-distinct verbs, the "b-root" represented by be and the am/was verb, which was itself a conglomerate. Roger Lass ("Old English") describes the verb as "a collection of semantically related paradigm fragments," while Weekley calls it "an accidental conglomeration from the different Old English dial[ect]s." It is the most irregular verb in Mod.E. and the most common. Collective in all Germanic languages, it has eight different forms in Modern English:

BE (infinitive, subjunctive, imperative)
AM (present 1st person singular)
ARE (present 2nd person singular and all plural)
IS (present 3rd person singular)
WAS (past 1st and 3rd persons singular)
WERE (past 2nd person singular, all plural; subjunctive)
BEING (progressive & present participle; gerund)
BEEN (perfect participle).

The paradigm in O.E. was:

	SING.	PL.
1st pres.	ic eom ic beo	we sind(on) we beoð
2nd pres.	þu eart þu bist	ge sind(on) ge beoð
3rd pres.	he is he bið	hie sind(on) hie beoð
1st pret.	ic wæs	we wæron
2nd pret.	þu wære	ge waeron
3rd pret.	heo wæs	hie wæron
1st pret. subj.	ic wære	we wæren
2nd pret. subj.	þu wære	ge wæren
3rd pret. subj.	Egcferð wære	hie wæren

The "b-root" had no past tense in O.E., but often served as future tense of am/was. In 13c. it took the place of the infinitive, participle and imperative forms of am/was. Later its plural forms (we beth, ye ben, they be) became standard in M.E. and it made inroads into the singular (I be, thou beest, he beth), but forms of are claimed this turf in the 1500s and replaced be in the plural. For the origin and evolution of the am/was branches of this tangle, see am and was.

"That but this blow Might be the be all, and the end all." ["Macbeth" I.vii.5]

being

"existence," early 14c., from be (q.v.) + -ing. Sense in human being is from 1751.

COLLAPSE

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

Be
The symbol for the element beryllium.

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

beryllium (bə-rĭl'ē-əm) Pronunciation Key
Symbol Be
A hard, lightweight, steel-gray metallic element of the alkaline-earth group, found in various minerals, especially beryl. It has a high melting point and is corrosion-resistant. Beryllium is used to make sturdy, lightweight alloys and aerospace structural materials. It is also used as a neutron moderator in nuclear reactors. Atomic number 4; atomic weight 9.0122; melting point 1,278°C; boiling point 2,970°C; specific gravity 1.848; valence 2. See Periodic Table.

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

being

see for the moment (time being); other things being equal.

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formal metric system shame short spring absence

Idioms & Phrases

for the moment (time being)

other things being equal

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"The fear of burglars is not only the fear of being robbed, but also the fear of a sudden and unexpected clutch out of the darkness."

-Elias Canetti

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