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being

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being

Pronunciation

/ˈbiːɪŋ/

  • Syllable 1: /biː/

    • b - voiceless bilabial plosive

    • iː - long close front unrounded vowel

  • Syllable 2: /ɪŋ/

    • ɪ - short close front unrounded vowel

    • ŋ - velar nasal


The word "being" has 2 syllables, and the stress falls on the first syllable. The vowel in the first syllable is long, while the vowel in the second syllable is short. The final consonant is a nasal, which means that the sound is produced by partially blocking the airflow in the nose.

Word Form Variations

The word "being" is a noun, so it does not have plural forms. However, it does have different forms depending on its use in a sentence.

  • The present participle of the verb "to be" is "being". It is used to form continuous verb tenses, such as "I am being helpful".

  • The past participle of the verb "to be" is "been". It is used to form the present perfect and past perfect tenses, such as "I have been helpful" and "I had been helpful".

  • The gerund of the verb "to be" is also "being". It is used as a noun, such as in the phrase "the act of being helpful".


In addition to these forms, the word "being" can also be used as an adjective, meaning "existing" or "living". For example, "The beings in the universe are vast and varied."

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Noun:

  • A living thing. Synonyms: creature, organism, person, animal, entity. Antonyms: non-living thing, inanimate object.

  • The state of existing. Synonyms: existence, beingness, actuality. Antonyms: non-existence, nothingness.

  • A particular type of living thing. Synonyms: creature, being, entity, individual. Antonyms: group, collective, multitude.

Verb:

  • To exist. Synonyms: be, live, exist, subsist. Antonyms: cease to exist, die, perish.

  • To experience something. Synonyms: undergo, go through, experience, feel. Antonyms: avoid, escape, evade.

Adjective:

  • Existing. Synonyms: living, extant, real. Antonyms: non-existent, nonexistent, imaginary.

  • Pertaining to a particular type of living thing. Synonyms: specific, particular, individual. Antonyms: general, universal, overall.

Examples of Use

Here are several real-world examples of use for the word "being":

  • In books:

    • "The beings in the universe are vast and varied." (Carl Sagan, Cosmos)

    • "The only thing that's real is the present moment, and the only thing that matters is the being that you are in the present moment." (Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now)

    • "The being of a thing is the sum total of its qualities and characteristics." (Aristotle, Metaphysics)

  • In newspapers:

    • "The being of a human being is more than just the sum of its parts." (The New York Times, "The Meaning of Being Human")

    • "The being of a nation is defined by its people and their culture." (The Washington Post, "The Future of the American Being")

    • "The being of a planet is threatened by climate change." (The Guardian, "The Being of the Planet")

  • In online publications:

    • "The being of the internet is constantly evolving." (The Atlantic, "The Being of the Internet")

    • "The being of artificial intelligence is a complex and debated topic." (Wired, "The Being of Artificial Intelligence")

    • "The being of the human soul is a mystery that has intrigued philosophers for centuries." (Psychology Today, "The Being of the Human Soul")

  • In entertainment mediums and platforms:

    • "The being of the characters in this film is brought to life by the actors' performances." (The Matrix, "The Being of the Characters")

    • "The being of the music in this album is what makes it so special." (Beyoncé, Lemonade)

    • "The being of the video game in this series is constantly evolving." (The Legend of Zelda, "The Being of the Video Game")

  • In general public discourse:

    • "The being of a person is defined by their actions."

    • "The being of a society is defined by its values."

    • "The being of the world is constantly changing."

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Being

  1. "The only thing that's real is the present moment, and the only thing that matters is the being that you are in the present moment." - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

  2. "The being of a thing is the sum total of its qualities and characteristics." - Aristotle, Metaphysics

  3. "The being of a human being is more than just the sum of its parts." - The New York Times, "The Meaning of Being Human"

  4. "The being of a nation is defined by its people and their culture." - The Washington Post, "The Future of the American Being"

  5. "The being of a planet is threatened by climate change." - The Guardian, "The Being of the Planet"

  6. "The being of the internet is constantly evolving." - The Atlantic, "The Being of the Internet"

  7. "The being of artificial intelligence is a complex and debated topic." - Wired, "The Being of Artificial Intelligence"

  8. "The being of the human soul is a mystery that has intrigued philosophers for centuries." - Psychology Today, "The Being of the Human Soul"

  9. "The being of the characters in this film is brought to life by the actors' performances." - The Matrix, "The Being of the Characters"

  10. "The being of the music in this album is what makes it so special." - Beyoncé, Lemonade

Etymology

The word "being" comes from the Old English word "beon", which means "to be, exist, come to be, become, happen". The word "beon" comes from the Proto-Germanic root *biju-, which means "I am, I will be". The root *biju- is also the source of the German verb "sein", the Latin verb "esse", and the Greek verb "einai".

The word "being" was first recorded in English in the 13th century. It was originally used in a more abstract sense, to mean "existence" or "beingness". 

Here are some examples of how the word "being" was used in the 13th century:

  • "The being of all things is from God." (John Wycliffe, 1382)

  • "The being of the soul is eternal." (Thomas Aquinas, 1274)

  • "The being of the world is a mystery." (Dante Alighieri, 1321)


As you can see, the word "being" was used in a more philosophical sense in the 13th century, to refer to the essence of a thing or the nature of existence. This is still one of the meanings of the word today, but it is also used in a more concrete sense, to mean "a living thing" or "a person".

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Being

  • The being of all things is a phrase that refers to the essence of all things, or the nature of existence.

  • The being of the soul is a phrase that refers to the immortal part of a person, or the soul.

  • The being of the world is a phrase that refers to the totality of existence, or the universe.

  • To be in the being is a phrase that refers to being present in the moment, or being aware of one's own existence.

  • To come into being is a phrase that refers to the process of being created or coming into existence.

  • To cease to be is a phrase that refers to the process of dying or ceasing to exist.

  • To be at one with being is a phrase that refers to a state of spiritual or philosophical enlightenment, or a state of being in harmony with the universe.

  • To be a being is a phrase that simply refers to the fact that one exists, or is a living thing.

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Source Information

Definition of being from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.