Be

/bi/

Meaning & Definition

verb
To exist; to have actual being.
I want to be happy.
To occur; to take place.
There will be a meeting tomorrow.
Used to indicate identity or equality.
He will be the next president.
To remain in a specified state.
Please be quiet during the movie.

Etymology

Old English 'beon', 'bēon', from Proto-West Germanic 'bijū', from Proto-Germanic '*biju' meaning 'to be'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

to be or not to be
a phrase handling the nature of existence.
to be in someone's shoes
to be in a situation similar to someone else's.
be that as it may
acknowledging a point without changing the main argument.

Related Words

being
the state of existence or living.
beingness
the quality or state of being or existence.
been
the past participle of be.

Slang Meanings

to be present
I just wanna be at the party!
to act in a certain nature or style
You gotta be bold if you want to succeed.
to be into something
I be vibin' to this music!