Be Meaning

UK /biː/
US /biː/
Word Definition
be meaning

Be Definition & Usage

verb

To exist; to have life or presence.

Examples

  • "He doesn't know if she will be at the party tonight."
  • "I hope you will be happy with your new job."
  • "The sun will be shining tomorrow, so bring your sunglasses."
  • "You are what you choose to be."
  • "She was never meant to be in this world, yet here she is."
verb

To occupy a certain role, position, or state of being.

Examples

  • "He is the CEO of the company."
  • "She wants to be an artist when she grows up."
  • "They are our best friends."
  • "I never thought I would be a teacher, but here I am."
  • "This is the life I want to be living."
verb

Used with present participles to form continuous tenses, indicating an ongoing action.

Examples

  • "I am reading a book right now."
  • "She was studying for her exams all night."
  • "They will be arriving soon."
  • "We are having dinner at 7 PM."
  • "He is working on a new project."
verb

Used in forming the passive voice, where the subject is the receiver of an action rather than the doer.

Examples

  • "The book was read by millions."
  • "The cake is being decorated for the party."
  • "A new policy will be introduced next month."
  • "The window was broken during the storm."
  • "The car is being repaired right now."

Cultural Context

'Be' is one of the most fundamental verbs in the English language, forming the foundation of expressions for existence, identity, action, and being. Its uses extend across various tenses, forms, and grammatical constructions. Across cultures, the idea of 'being' is central to existential philosophy and the study of identity and purpose.

The One Who Chose to Be

Story

The One Who Chose to Be

In a small town nestled by the mountains, there lived a young woman named Anna. She had always felt out of place, as if her purpose was unclear. 'What am I supposed to be?' she often wondered, staring at the stars late at night. Her parents hoped she would take over their bakery, but Anna had different plans. She wanted to be an artist, to paint her emotions and capture the world in colors and strokes. One afternoon, while walking through the town square, she overheard a conversation between two strangers. 'You know, everyone is just trying to be,' one said to the other. 'They are constantly searching for who they are, what they are meant to be.' The other nodded thoughtfully. Anna paused, reflecting on their words. 'Is that all I need to do?' she wondered. 'Just be, and let the rest follow?' Her journey was not easy. She began to experiment with painting, but faced many failures. Yet, every time she picked up a brush, she felt like she was becoming more herself. 'This is what I am meant to be doing,' she thought. Over time, her work began to find an audience, and soon, her paintings were displayed in galleries across the country. One day, as Anna stood in front of her latest exhibition, she realized something profound. She was no longer just trying to be. She had discovered who she was and embraced her true calling. Her identity was no longer in question. She was an artist, and that was all she needed to be. Anna had learned that to be was not just to exist—it was to find meaning, to define oneself, and to live authentically. The young woman who had once wondered who she was, had found the answer: she was exactly who she was meant to be. In the end, Anna's story was a reminder that we are all on a journey of becoming. And sometimes, we simply need to let ourselves be.

The One Who Chose to Be