being

[ bee-ing ]

noun

1. the fact of existing; existence (as opposed to nonexistence).
2. conscious, mortal existence; life:

   Our being is as an instantaneous flash of light in the midst of eternal night.

3. substance or nature:

   of such a being as to arouse fear.

4. something that exists:

   inanimate beings.

5. a living thing:

   strange, exotic beings that live in the depths of the sea.

6. a human being; person:

   the most beautiful being you could imagine.

7. (initial capital letter) God.
8. Philosophy.
   1. that which has actuality either materially or in idea.
   2. absolute existence in a complete or perfect state, lacking no essential characteristic; essence.

conjunction

1. 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.

being

/ ˈbiːɪŋ /

noun

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. (in the philosophy of Aristotle) actuality Compare becoming

Other Words From

• non·being noun adjective
• super·being noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of being¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; be + -ing ¹

Idioms and Phrases

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

Example Sentences

In 2011 LGBT media outlet Queerty took the app to task for allegedly deleting accounts that made reference to being trans.

From The Daily Beast

Why, some might be asking, am I being so harsh on their work so soon after they died?

From The Daily Beast

“Having been a legislator and a mayor, I particularly enjoy being a chief executive,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

However, more than 20 players on the ballot this year were probably worthy of being enshrined in Cooperstown.

From The Daily Beast

“I do not support gay marriages being recognized in Florida,” he wrote Andrew Walther of Sanford.

From The Daily Beast

He remembered something—the cherished pose of being a man plunged fathoms-deep in business.

From Project Gutenberg

Other things being equal, the volume of voice used measures the value that the mind puts upon the thought.

From Project Gutenberg

The people here retained the same paganism and barbarity, only they were not so dangerous, being conquered by the Muscovites.

From Project Gutenberg

And having an enormous appetite he was fortunate in being expert at finding angleworms.

From Project Gutenberg

Judge or sheriff, it was all one to them, each being equally terrible in their eyes.

From Project Gutenberg