being
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.
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.
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.
Origin of being
1Other words from being
- non·be·ing, noun, adjective
- su·per·be·ing, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for being
/ (ˈbiːɪŋ) /
the state or fact of existing; existence
essential nature; self: she put her whole being into the part
something that exists or is thought to exist, esp something that cannot be assigned to any category: a being from outer space
a person; human being
(in the philosophy of Aristotle) actuality: Compare becoming (def. 3)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with being
see for the moment (time being); other things being equal.
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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