Synonyms

been

American

[bin, ben] / bɪn, bɛn /

verb

past participle of be.

been British

/ biːn, bɪn /

verb

the past participle of be 1

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Interestingly, listing photos shared on the Compass website showed that some of the main living spaces in the home have been cleared of all furniture.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

In the scam uncovered by the Justice Department, victims received cold calls from individuals posing as staff of large U.S. banks, warning them that their accounts had been used to buy firearms.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Since he was safely taken back to the zoo, the city has been swept by a craze for Neukgu.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Days after this video was shared, the property’s “coming soon” listing has now been taken down—although it is not immediately clear why.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

Last week, she and the entire class had been given a creative writing assignment.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023