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

The hour is being called “Jenna & Friends” until a permanent co-host is named.

From Los Angeles Times

As much as we loved being able to rely on the sound being great every night, there’s a great momentum to being on the road.

From Los Angeles Times

It breaks the movie out of the conceit of it actually being a live show, and suddenly you shatter the fourth wall.

From Los Angeles Times

Having an attorney general with so much potentially compromising dirt on him could be an asset, it being hard to say “no” to someone would could arguably ruin you.

From Salon

In 2022 she left the Democrat Party and initially registered as an independent - accusing her former party of being an “elitist cabal of warmongers” driven by "cowardly wokeness".

From BBC