BEEN Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words

been

verb

Definition of been

past participle of be

as in lived

to have life stories that begin with the familiar line "once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden"

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sat

to occupy a place or location we'll be there waiting for you

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as in ranked

to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes our school's football team is first in its division

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as in happened

to take place the party is next Saturday

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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 been Naperville residents who’ve been unable to use Book Road for most of the year will see a little relief once the stretch between 75th and 83rd streets reopens by month’s end. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 Some of the greatest shows on Earth these days are coming from the road warriors who’ve been out there the longest. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026 Especially at both lines of scrimmage, Nebraska seeks players who’ve been through it. — Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 But nowhere have the politics of data centers been more strained than in the Wisconsin governor’s race. — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026 These are women in their late 30s, still single, who’ve been through relationships and are still trying, who could have had kids and haven’t, committed to their work and to enjoying themselves. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 Over the years, there’ve been so many different initiatives that then sprang out of these talks, which is another amazing thing. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026 The special edition adds her to the scene, on a surface level flexing access to these men who’ve been movers and shakers across consecutive centuries, which could imply an artist seeing their own work on the same level. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 July 2026 Three races in, there’ve been unforeseen winners, unpredicted changes to the schedule and the unanticipated reality of regulation changes dawning. — Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for been

Verb

Accessibility app Snowball turns lived experiences into detailed data, letting users review businesses and other venues for their step-free access, accessible toilets, parking, seating, lighting, noise, and quiet spaces.

— Lauryn Higgins, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Invictibellatrix amberina lived around 120 million years ago, during the Early Cretaceous period.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of lived

Verb

This fine establishment has sat at the same address in the Williamsburg Bridge's shadow since 1887, and the interiors carry about as many frills as your average public house—dark wood, plaster walls, and so on.

— Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
The birthday boy and his big sister Sterling Skye, 3, each sat between one of their parents’ laps.

— Angel Saunders, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024

Definition of sat

Verb

In just the last two years, the team won back-to-back championships and ranked among the league’s top three most expensive payrolls.

— Isaac Tellechea, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
As things stand, Boise State is the only team ranked in the AP Top 25, indicating that the Broncos are in the driver’s seat.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of ranked

Verb

Comparisons between the Princess of Wales and Princess Rajwa have existed since the Jordanian royal's relationship with the Crown Prince became public.

— Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 17 Oct. 2026
The technology and the control existed, but the evidence didn’t support the assumption.

— Scott Alldridge, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of existed

Verb

Coleman found instructive a 1938 ruling in favor of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who challenged a radio station that placed observers on a rooftop next to Forbes Field and paid them to provide play-by-play for an unauthorized radio broadcast.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Governor John Jay, a leading Federalist who placed greater faith in firm government than in popular judgment, had authorized the military presence after the sheriff reported fears of a rescue.

— Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of placed

Verb

The Golden Globes will also be done and dusted with its 2027 ceremony set for January 10.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Getting things done is not the same as leading people, managing performance, holding a team accountable and driving the business forward.

— Ken Paskins, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of done

Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of been

verb

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Invariant 'Be'

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