being
BEE-ihng
Being (noun) means a living creature, especially in phrases like "human being.". Example: “Every human being deserves basic dignity.”
noun
1
A living creature, especially in phrases like "human being."
"Every human being deserves basic dignity."
"Scientists wonder whether any living being could survive on that planet."
"The film features a strange being made entirely of light."
2
The state of existing; existence itself.
"The poem reflects on the mystery of being and what it means to live."
"He lay awake wondering about being, and why anything exists at all."
"Philosophers have long debated the nature of being."
conjunction
1
Given that; since (used to introduce a reason).
"Being that it was raining, we stayed indoors."
"Being that you live nearby, could you water my plants this week?"
"Being that it was late, he decided to take a taxi home."
How to use being
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA living creature, or the fact of existing.
Common pairings
human being
a being from another world
state of being
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like being.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- beings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Every human _____ deserves basic dignity.
Etymology
From Middle English being, formed from the verb "be" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ing."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
nonbeing
Related words
Rhymes for being
See all rhymes for being →Frequently asked questions
What does “being” mean?
The word “being” means a living creature, especially in phrases like "human being.". In plain terms, a living creature, or the fact of existing.
How do you pronounce “being”?
“Being” is pronounced BEE-ihng (/ˈbi.ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “being” in a sentence?
Here is “being” used in a sentence: “Every human being deserves basic dignity.”
What part of speech is “being”?
Depending on how it is used, “being” can be a noun and a conjunction.
Where does the word “being” come from?
The word “being” comes from Middle English. From Middle English being, formed from the verb "be" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ing.".
Is “being” a common word?
“Being” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “being” have?
“Being” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a living creature, especially in phrases like "human being.".
What is the difference between a being and a human?
A being is any living, conscious creature; a human is one particular kind of being. So every human is a being, but not every being is human — animals and, in stories, aliens or spirits count as beings too. The phrase 'human being' simply specifies which sort of being we mean.
Does 'being' mean the same as existence?
It depends on the sense. As a noun for a creature — 'a living being' — it means an entity that exists. But being also names the abstract state of existing itself, as in 'the nature of being.' Same spelling, two ideas: one is a creature, the other is existence.
What are examples of beings?
Humans are the most familiar beings, but the word covers any living creature — animals, birds, and insects are all beings. It also stretches to imagined or spiritual ones: aliens are extraterrestrial beings, and myths speak of divine or supernatural beings. The common thread is that a being is alive or conscious.
Why do we say 'human being' instead of just 'human'?
'Human being' emphasises our shared identity as living, feeling creatures, not just a species label. 'Human' alone can sound clinical or work as an adjective, while 'human being' underlines personhood and dignity — which is why it is common in phrases like 'treat people like human beings.'
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include being:
