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
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 One of the reasons that the world is peaceful is that magic allows other citizens to experience another being’s memories. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Celebrities are amplifiers Oscar winning actor and Thelma & Louise star Susan Sarandon describes her lifelong activism as something that's ingrained in her being. Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024 That’s how the undress AI apps, for example, came into being, Gupta said. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 In other words, the last way any sentient being would ever fight higher prices is with fewer workers. John Tamny, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 For the time being, the Sharks have Mikael Granlund centering the top line with Anthony Duclair and Fabian Zetterlud and William Eklund centering the second line with Luke Kunin and Filip Zadina. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 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 19 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!