being 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of beingnext
as in breathing

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being

2 of 3

noun

ˈbē(-i)ŋ How to pronounce being (audio)
1
as in person
a member of the human race no one has the right to enslave another being

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in object
one that has a real and independent existence new parents are typically in awe at having created this separate being

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in essence
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is music is such a large part of her being that she could never give up performing

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being

3 of 3

verb

present participle of be
1
as in living
to have life stories that begin with the familiar line "once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden"

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sitting
to occupy a place or location we'll be there waiting for you

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3
as in ranking
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes our school's football team is first in its division

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4
as in happening
to take place the party is next Saturday

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of being
Noun
My mother, Vivian Ayers, wrote a book called Hawk in 1957 about man’s transcendence into a higher level of existence, which was this person going out into space, kind of coming into one with the sun and becoming a new being. — Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026 The note change is a marker, but the organ, in which air is electronically blown through the pipes day and night for all to hear, has become an endearing sound that connects you to your being. — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 On one canvas, a woman prunes a plant and a cook tends his stove atop amid a procession of celestial beings. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Were the beings who anointed Benjamin Sisko as their Emissary born this way? — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for being
Recent Examples of Synonyms for being
  1. existing
  2. person
  3. object
  4. essence
  5. living
  6. sitting
  7. ranking
  8. happening
Adjective
  • While much of the focus on the growing vertical video/microseries category has focused on the creation of original, low-budget content, there also has been a marketplace for pre-existing fare that is edited down into micro-sized bites.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The new penalties align with pre-existing rules on Singapore’s subway system.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of existing
Noun
  • Meanwhile, America is now in the war, and veteran Adam is seemingly the only person in Salinas who realizes that this isn’t necessarily a noble thing.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Now suppose the group of 300 proposes its own three-person slate.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of person
Noun
  • Building conventional simulations for robot testing can be time-consuming and costly, Taiuti said, requiring developers to create three-dimensional objects and configure scenes.
    — Wen Shao, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026
  • To assist Noah, Sinestro has also forged a new lantern from the water on this dead alien planet — imbued with Zoe’s fear toxins — causing golden cracks in the object’s surface.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of object
Noun
  • The bones, essence, and layering of that apartment form a mini masterclass in design.
    — Kelly Allen, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In the morning, reach for your cleanser or simply rinse the skin with water, then proceed with a hydrating serum or essence (if desired), moisturizer, and SPF.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of essence
Verb
  • The majority of the rooms at the Inn are two-room suites with a living space and a bedroom.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • But across the board, many New Yorkers cite a better cost of living as the top catalyst for the southern migration.
    — Sheeka Sanahori, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of living
Verb
  • In an effort to be comfortable and simultaneously stylish, Venus Williams laced up a pair of fashionable sneaker heels while sitting front row at Lacoste‘s spring 2027 show held today in Paris.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The stranger approached the store owner, a stout man waving a rattan fan lazily at his face while sitting at the till.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of sitting
Verb
  • Vance stumped in Florida, putting the Republican Party's highest-ranking officials in areas where GOP candidates once expected to have glide paths to victory but are now facing tougher races.
    — MICHELLE L. PRICE, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But in July, Saudi Arabia attacked the airport in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, to prevent the landing of an Iranian plane carrying high-ranking Houthi officials.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of ranking
Verb
  • My intention for this film actually also is to be a reflection of what’s happening in Palestine.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • There's a long history of events like this happening in fraternities.
    — Richard Hall, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of happening

Phrases Containing being

Browse Nearby Words

beige
being
being (as or as how or that)
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Cite this Entry

“Being.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/being. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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