being

1 of 4

noun

be·​ing ˈbē(-i)ŋ How to pronounce being (audio)
1
a
: the quality or state of having existence
a social movement that came into being in the 1960s
artistic form comes into being only when two elements are successfully fusedCarlos Lynes
b(1)
: something that is conceivable and hence capable of existing
(2)
: something that actually exists
(3)
: the totality of existing things
c
: conscious existence : life
2
: the qualities that constitute an existent thing : essence
I knew it was true in the core of my being.
especially : personality
3
: a living thing
sentient beings
a mythical being
especially : person
a very sexual being

being

2 of 4

adjective

: present
used in the phrase for the time being
plans to remain single for the time being

being

3 of 4

conjunction

chiefly dialectal
: since, because
usually used with as, as how, or that

being

4 of 4

present participle of be

Examples of being in a Sentence

Noun a social movement that was brought into being in the 1960s I knew it was true in the core of my being.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Rare Pygmy Hippo Birth at Athens Zoo Has Staff 'Absolutely Thrilled': 'Extremely Important' Researchers also noted that this new discovery is essential to studying how modern amphibians came into being — as well as how their prehistoric ancestors looked and behaved. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024 Said threat involves an artifact that holds the key to unleashing a destructive being capable of freezing the world. Brian Lowry, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 Biden has a reputation for being a man whose family has always been central to his very being. Maressa Brown, Parents, 19 Mar. 2024 Lee seemingly lives the history with every fibre of his being, and his meticulous yet florid mid-century reconstructions blaze with the power of spiritual devotion and righteous fervor along with their sheer dramatic energy. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 For the time being, a state court has blocked Wolf’s regulation that authorizes Pennsylvania to join the multistate Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which imposes a price and declining cap on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Michael Rubinkam and Marc Levy, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024 While keeping some of the menu details close to the vest for the time being, Emily said patrons can look forward to high-end cocktails. Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 For the time being, Chicago Cafe’s owners are racing to meet demand and capitalize on their restaurant’s newfound fame. Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 Phoebe Philo has opted out of the runway, at least for the time being, and the move is already influencing other designers. Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'being.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from gerund of been be

Adjective

Middle English, from present participle of been be

Conjunction

from being entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Conjunction

1528, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of being was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near being

Cite this Entry

“Being.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/being. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

being

noun
be·​ing
ˈbē-iŋ
1
: the state of having life or existence
2
: one that exists in fact or thought
3
: a living thing
especially : human being

More from Merriam-Webster on being

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