An Encylopedia Britannica Company

be

128 ENTRIES FOUND:
be /ˈbiː/ verb
present first singular am /ˈæm/ /əm/ second singular are /ˈɑɚ/ /ɚ/ third singular is /ˈɪz/ /əz/ plural are past tense for first and third singular was /ˈwəz/ second singular were /ˈwɚ/ plural were past participle been /ˈbɪn/ Brit /ˈbiːn/ present participle being /ˈbiːjɪŋ/
be
/ˈbiː/
verb
present first singular am /ˈæm/ /əm/ second singular are /ˈɑɚ/ /ɚ/ third singular is /ˈɪz/ /əz/ plural are past tense for first and third singular was /ˈwəz/ second singular were /ˈwɚ/ plural were past participle been /ˈbɪn/ Brit /ˈbiːn/ present participle being /ˈbiːjɪŋ/
Britannica Dictionary definition of BE
[linking verb]
used to indicate the identity of a person or thing
used to describe the qualities of a person or thing
used to indicate the condition of a person or thing
[linking verb] used to indicate the group, class, category, etc., that a person or thing belongs to
[linking verb] used to indicate the place, situation, or position of a person or thing
[linking verb]
used in phrases with there to describe a situation, occurrence, etc.
used in phrases with it to indicate a time or place or to describe a current, past, or future condition
[linking verb] used to say how much something costs
[linking verb] used to say that one amount or number is the same as another
[no object] : to happen or take place
[no object] : to come or go used in perfect tenses
◊ People who have been there, done that are bored about the idea of going somewhere or doing something because they have already done it before. This is an informal phrase that is often used in a joking way.
[no object] somewhat formal : to exist or live
10 
[auxiliary verb] used with the past participle of a verb to form passive constructions
11 
[auxiliary verb]
used with the present participle of a verb to express continuous action
used with the present participle of a verb to express future or later action
12 
[auxiliary verb]
used with to + verb to say what will happen or was going to happen in the future
used with to + verb to say what should happen or be done
used in negative statements with to + verb to say what is or was possible
used with to + verb to say that one thing must happen or be true so that another thing can happen or be true
13 
[auxiliary verb] used like have with the past participle of some verbs to form perfect tenses now often considered archaic

be yourself

: to behave in a normal or natural way

leave (someone or something) be

see 1leave

let (someone or something) be

see 1let

the best is yet to be

see 3best

the powers that be

see 1power

to be sure

see 1sure