be

verb

ˈbē How to pronounce be (audio)
Definition of benext
1
as in to live
to have life stories that begin with the familiar line "once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to happen
to take place the party is next Saturday

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 be When business conditions and priorities change quickly, employees look to leadership for reassurance even when there are no easy answers. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Unlike Leti and Teresa’s visit to Normandy, there was no family history awaiting them, but Susan’s desire to go was reason enough. — Jenn Sinrich, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026 But yeah, there was certainly less [socializing] than there’d normally be. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 There are also biographies of David Beckham, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for be
Recent Examples of Synonyms for be
  1. live
  2. stand
  3. rank
  4. happen
  5. exist
  6. lie
  7. place
  8. come
Verb
  • To rely on him on a day-to-day basis is to live under conditions of constant disappointment.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Authorities said at the time that the 3-year-old wasn't harmed, and bomb technicians were able to remove and dispose of the device in a rural area outside of the town where his family lived.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of live
Verb
  • While the Broncos haven’t returned to the tournament since then, this year’s squad blends continuity with exciting new faces and stands a serious chance of bringing Boise State back to the NCAA Tournament.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026
  • So here stood Jones, a play away from something happening against the Longhorns that felt impossible days ago.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of stand
Verb
  • The Chiefs also entered the week ranked second in EPA per rush, which would be their best mark this decade.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
  • After allowing four sacks and managing 33 rushing yards against the Bears, TCU ranks last in the Big 12 in rushing yards and sacks allowed.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of rank
Verb
  • His big adult break happened when visiting his sister in San Francisco in 1954.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Researchers can model what happens if copper prices increase sharply or if a newer technology becomes commercially viable years from now.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of happen
Verb
  • College sports simply can’t exist in its present form without bankrupting our colleges and universities.
    — Bruce Svare, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • However, the order preserves existing sanctions on Russia under earlier executive orders.
    — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of exist
Verb
  • The fight was now about accusations of lying, whether the item was for sale, and what actually happened in the store.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The smartphones lying idle in drawers could serve as brains for the bipedal bot.
    — muskanbhatia, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of lie
Verb
  • It was discovered the hot box was not turned on soon enough prior to placing hot food in the unit.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • These devices can be placed onto a balcony, backyard, or patio, and easily set up to start powering homes right away.
    — Liz Krueger, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of place
Verb
  • Monday's attack came a day after a Russian drone struck the village of Pisochyn in the Kharkiv district, killing three people and injuring nine others, including children, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Most people come here for the ever-evolving menu of house cocktails.
    — Condé Nast, cntraveler.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of come

Phrases Containing be

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bazaars
be
beach
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Cite this Entry

“Be.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/be. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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