been
been
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "been" is /bɪn/.
/bɪn/
Word Form Variations
The word "been" is primarily a past participle of the verb "to be." As such, it does not have typical word form variations like singular/plural for nouns or different degrees for adjectives. Its variations are tied to its function within verb tenses.
"Been" is a form of the verb "to be." Here are its primary forms:
Infinitive: to be
Present Tense: am, is, are
Past Tense: was, were
Present Participle: being
Past Participle: been
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb (Past Participle of "to be")
Definition 1: Having existed or occurred at some point in the past, often indicating a state or experience that has concluded or is continuing up to the present.
Synonyms: existed, lived, occurred, happened
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this usage as it describes a state of existence; concepts like "never been" or "not existed" are negations rather than antonyms.)
Definition 2: Used in perfect tenses to indicate completion of an action or state by a certain time, or duration of an action or state up to the present.
Synonyms: (As an auxiliary verb, it doesn't have direct synonyms in this sense, as its function is grammatical.)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; its function is grammatical within verb tenses.)
Examples of Use
Books: "I've been reading a fascinating biography of Marie Curie, and it highlights how challenging her early life must have been." (Example inspired by general biographical works, not a specific quote)
Newspapers: "The mayor has been under fire recently due to the ongoing budget dispute in the city council." (The New York Times)
Online Publications: "Our research indicates that consumer spending has been steadily increasing over the past two quarters, signaling a strong economic recovery." (Bloomberg.com)
Entertainment Mediums (Film Dialogue): "Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" (Common phrase in suspense or reunion scenes in films, e.g., similar to dialogue found in The Fugitive, 1993)
Entertainment Platforms (Streaming Service Description): "After years of speculation, the highly anticipated series has finally been released, much to the delight of fans who have been waiting patiently." (Example of text often found on Netflix or Hulu descriptions)
General Public Discourse (Social Media Post): "Just finished my first marathon! It's been a challenging journey, but so worth it. Feeling incredibly proud." (Example of a typical post on platforms like X or Instagram)
General Public Discourse (Conversation): "I've been meaning to call you all week, but things have been so hectic."
10 Quotes Using Been
"It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues." (Abraham Lincoln)
"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life – and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do." (Georgia O'Keeffe)
"I've been to the mountaintop." (Martin Luther King Jr.)
"If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I have stood upon the shoulders of giants." (Isaac Newton)
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become. We have been what we have thought." (Buddha)
"You've got to have been to the bottom to really appreciate the top." (Carly Fiorina)
"I have been a man of many sorrows, and acquainted with grief." (Isaiah 53:3, King James Bible)
"It would have been so easy to give up, but I never did." (Stephen Curry)
"What's done is done and cannot be undone. What has been cannot be changed." (William Shakespeare, Macbeth)
"The truth has been a dangerous thing throughout history." (Richelle E. Goodrich)
Etymology
The word "been" comes from a very old root in the English language, and it's part of the verb "to be," which is one of the most common and irregular verbs in English.
Think of it this way: the verb "to be" is like a big family with many different members, such as "am," "is," "are," "was," "were," "being," and "been." "Been" is the "past participle" member of this family.
Its journey started a long, long time ago, even before Old English (the language spoken in England from about 450 to 1150 AD). The "b-" sound in "been" comes from an ancient Proto-Indo-European root, which is a common ancestor to many European and Indian languages. This root, *bheue-, generally meant something like "to be," "to exist," or "to grow."
In Old English, the form that led to "been" was "bēon." This "bēon" was an infinitive form (like "to be" today) and also had forms used to talk about existing or becoming.
So, the first known use and meaning of the word or its ancestors were simply about existence, being, or coming into being. Over many centuries, as English evolved, different forms of "to be" blended together. "Been" became the specific form we use today as the past participle, usually with "has," "have," or "had" to talk about actions or states that started in the past and either finished or are still continuing up to a certain point.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Been
Has-been: Refers to a person, especially a performer or athlete, who is no longer famous or successful.
Been there, done that: An expression indicating that one has already experienced something and is therefore familiar with it, often implying a lack of interest in repeating it.
Haven't been myself: Means one has not been feeling or acting in one's usual, characteristic way.
It's been a long time coming: Used to describe something that has been expected or desired for a considerable period.
Been through the mill: To have experienced a difficult or trying period.
Where have you been all my life?: A humorous or affectionate expression of surprise and pleasure upon meeting someone wonderful or finding something highly desirable.
Been down this road before: Similar to "been there, done that," indicating prior experience with a particular situation or problem.
Has been better: A common response when asked how one is, implying one is not feeling well or things are not going well.
Have been meaning to: Used to express an intention to do something that has been delayed.
Been there, seen that: A variant of "been there, done that," emphasizing observation rather than participation.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of been from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
