he was killed in a car crash他在一场(場)车(車)祸(禍)中丧(喪)生 (tā zài yī chǎng chēhuò zhōng sàngshēng)
the building was designed by a famous architect这(這)座建筑(築)由一位著名的建筑(築)师(師)设(設)计(計) (zhè zuò jiànzhù yóu yī wèi zhùmíng de jiànzhùshī shèjì)
the box had been opened盒子已被打开(開)了 (hézi yǐ bèi dǎkāi le)
(with "to" infinitive)
the house is to be sold房子将(將)要出售 (fángzi jiāng yào chūshòu)
what is to be done?我们(們)该(該)怎么(麼)办(辦)？ (wǒmen gāi zěnmebàn?)
these flowers are to be found all over the country这(這)些花在全国(國)都能看得到 (zhèxiē huā zài quánguó dōunéng kàndedào)
the thief was nowhere to be seen小偷不知去向 (xiǎotōu bù zhī qùxiàng)
(in tag questions)
it was fun, wasn't it?有意思，是不是？ (yǒu yìsi, shì bù shì?)
it wasn't good timing, was it?时(時)间(間)选(選)得不太好，是不是？ (Shíjiān xuǎn de bù tài hǎo, shì bù shì?)
he's good-looking, isn't he?他长(長)得不错(錯)，是不是？ (tā zhǎng de bùcuò, shì bù shì?)
so you're back again, are you?所以你又回来(來)了，是不是？ (suǒyǐ nǐ yòu huílai le, shì bù shì?)
(in short answers)
"was it where I said?" — "yes, it was/no, it wasn't""就在我说(說)的地方吗(嗎)？" "是/不是" ("jiù zài wǒ shuō de dìfang ma?" "shì/bù shì")
"you're all right, aren't you?" — "yes, I am/no, I'm not""你还(還)好，是不是？" "是的，我还(還)好/不，我不好" ("nǐ hái hǎo, shì bù shì? " "shì de, wǒ hái hǎo/bù, wǒ bù hǎo")
1 (verb)
Definition
to exist
There are two kinds of company pension.
Synonyms
exist
Many people believe that the Loch Ness Monster does exist.
be present
be extant
2 (verb)
Definition
to exist
It hurt so badly he wished to cease to be.
Synonyms
be alive
live
He's got a terrible disease and will not live long.
exist
survive
Drugs that dissolve blood clots can help heart-attack victims survive.
breathe
last
be present
continue
endure
be living
be extant
happen
3 (verb)
Definition
to take place
The film's premiere is next week.
Synonyms
take place
Similar demonstrations also took place elsewhere.
happen
We cannot say for sure what will happen.
occur
The meeting occurred in secret.
arise
if a problem arises later in pregnancy
come about
A lasting solution to this problem can only come about through dialogue.
transpire (informal)
Nothing is known about what transpired at the meeting.
befall
come to pass
Everything I said about the game came to pass that night.
4 (verb)
How long have you been here?
Synonyms
remain
There remains deep mistrust of his government.
last
You only need a very small amount, so the tube lasts for ages.
stand
The supreme court says the convictions still stand.
continue
For ten days I continued in this state.
He had hoped to continue as a full-time career officer.
stay
Hundreds of people defied army orders to stay at home.
endure
Somehow the language endures and continues to survive to this day.
prevail
persist
Consult your doctor if the symptoms persist.
abide
to make moral judgements on the basis of what is eternal and abides
bide
5 (verb)
The church is on the other side of the town.
Synonyms
be situated
be set
be placed
be located
be installed
be positioned
6 (verb)
He's at university now.
Synonyms
attend
Thousands of people attended the funeral.
go to
be at
be there
be present
frequent
I hear she frequents that restaurant.
haunt
During the day she haunted the town's cinemas.
7 (verb)
How much is this?
Synonyms
cost
The course is limited to 12 people and costs £50.
come to
sell at
set (someone) back (informal)
command a price of
8 (verb)
Eight plus eight is sixteen.
Synonyms
amount to
become
come to
total
Their exports will total £85 million this year.
equal
The average pay rise equalled 1.41 times inflation.
add up to
9 (verb)
I was too chilly for swimming.
Synonyms
feel
10 (verb)
She'd learnt to be herself and stand up for her convictions.
Synonyms
remain
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abide
Definition
to last or exist for a long time
to make moral judgements on the basis of what is eternal and abides
Synonyms
last,
continue,
remain,
survive,
carry on,
endure,
persist,
keep on
in the sense of arise
Definition
to come into notice
if a problem arises later in pregnancy
Synonyms
happen,
start,
begin,
follow,
issue,
result,
appear,
develop,
emerge,
occur,
spring,
set in,
stem,
originate,
ensue,
come about,
commence,
come to light,
emanate,
crop up (informal),
come into being,
materialize
in the sense of come about
Definition
to happen
A lasting solution to this problem can only come about through dialogue.
Synonyms
happen,
result,
occur,
take place,
arise,
transpire (informal),
befall,
come to pass
Synonyms of 'be'
be
Explore 'be' in the dictionary
All related terms of 'be'
be quick!
快点(點)！ kuài diǎn!
be quiet!
请(請)安静(靜)！ qǐng ānjìng!
to be due
( person, train, bus ) 应(應)到 yīng dào
to be had
被骗(騙) bèipiàn
to be in
( at home, work ) 在 zài ⇒ My flatmate was in at the time. → 我寓友那时候在家。 Wǒ yùyǒu nà shíhou zài jiā.
to be off
( on holiday ) 在休假 zài xiūjià
to be out
( unconscious ) 不省人事的 bùxǐngrénshì de
to be up
( be out of bed ) 起床 qǐchuáng
be my guest
请(請)便 qǐngbiàn
be reasonable!
理智些！ lǐzhì xie!
to be alive
活着(著)的 huózhe de
to be apart
( couple, family ) 分开(開) fēnkāi
to be awake
醒着(著)的 xǐngzhe de
to be back
回来(來) huílai ⇒ He's back. → 他回来了。 Tā huílai le.
to be born
( baby ) 出生 chūshēng
to be dying
( person, plant, animal ) 奄奄一息 yǎnyǎn yī xī
to be exact
准(準)确(確)来(來)说(說) zhǔnquè lái shuō
to be fast
( clock, watch ) 快 kuài
to be left
( remain ) 剩下 shèngxià ⇒ Is there any gin left? → 剩没剩杜松子酒？ Shèng méi shèng dùsōngzǐjiǔ?
to be lost
( having lost one's way ) 迷路 mílù
to be lucky
( person ) 走运(運) zǒuyùn
to be nuts
发(發)疯(瘋)的 fāfēng de
to be quiet
( person ) 沉默的 chénmò de
to be right
( person ) 正确(確) zhèngquè
to be sick
( vomit ) 呕(嘔)吐 ǒutù
to be slow
( watch ) 慢了 màn le
to be stuck
( unable to move : object ) 卡住 qiǎzhù ; (: person ) 陷于(於) xiànyú ; (: unable to continue ) 卡住了 qiǎzhù le
to be wrong
( answer ) 是错(錯)的 shì cuò de
mother-to-be
孕妇(婦) yùnfù [ 名 míng ]
to be absent
不在 bùzài
to be aroused
( sexually ) 被激起情欲(慾) bèi jīqǐ qíngyù
to be asleep
睡着(著)了 shuìzháo le
to be delayed
( person, flight, departure ) 被耽搁(擱)了 bèi dānge le
to be drafted
应(應)征(徵)入伍 yìngzhēng rùwǔ
to be drowned
被淹死 bèi yānsǐ
to be friends
是朋友 shì péngyou
to be hatched
孵出 fūchū
to be hungry
饿(餓)了 èle
to be lacking
不足 bùzú
to be located
( frm : situated ) 位于(於) wèiyú
to be precise
( in fact ) 确(確)切地说(說) quèqiè de shuō
to be seasick
( vomit ) 晕(暈)船呕(嘔)吐 yùnchuán ǒutù
to be seated
( be sitting ) 坐下 zuòxià
to be stumped
被难(難)倒 bèi nándǎo
to be through
( on telephone ) 被接通 bèi jiētōng ⇒ You're through. → 已为您接通。 Yǐ wèi nín jiētōng. ⇒ You're through to the accounts department. → 已为你接到会计部。 Yǐ wèi nǐ jiē dào kuàijìbù.
don't be hasty
别(別)性急 bié xìngjí
don't be silly!
别(別)傻了！ bié shǎ le!
he may be out
他可能出去了 tā kěnéng chūqù le
I must be off
我必须(須)得走了 wǒ bìxū děi zǒu le
to be a baby
( inf ) 真是个(個)小孩儿(兒) zhēn shì gè xiǎoháir
be auxiliary verb uses
(bi, STRONG biː)
Word forms: 1st person singular presenttense am ( WEAK əm, STRONG æm), 2nd person singular presenttense, plural present tense are ( WEAK əʳ, STRONG ɑːʳ), 3rd person singular presenttense is, present participle being, 1st person singular pasttense was ( WEAK wəz, STRONG wɒz), 2nd person singular pasttense were ( WEAK wəʳ, STRONG wɜːʳ), past participle been ( WEAK bɪn, STRONG biːn)In spoken English, forms of be are often shortened, for example 'I am' is shortened to 'I'm' and 'was not' is shortenedto 'wasn't'.
1. auxiliary verb
You use be with a present participle to form the continuous tenses of verbs.
This is happening in every school throughout the country. [AUX -ing]
She didn't always think carefully about what she was doing. [AUX -ing]
And, between my two lectures, I will be making a quick trip to Phoenix. [AUX -ing]
He had only been trying to help. [AUX -ing]
He's doing better than I am. [AUX]
2. be going to
3. auxiliary verb
You use be with a past participle to form the passive voice.
Forensic experts were called in. [AUXILIARY -ed]
Her husband was killed in a car crash. [AUXILIARY -ed]
The cost of electricity from coal-fired stations is expected to fall. [AUXILIARY -ed]
Similar action is being taken by the U.S. government. [AUXILIARY -ed]
4. auxiliary verb
You use be with an infinitive to indicate that something is planned to happen, that it will definitely happen, or that it must happen.
The talks are to begin tomorrow. [AUX to-inf]
It was to be Johnson's first meeting with the board in nearly a month. [AUX to-inf]
You must take the whole project more seriously if you are to succeed. [AUX to-inf]
You are to answer to Brian, to take your orders from him. [AUX to-inf]
5. be about to
6. auxiliary verb
You use be with an infinitive to say or ask what should happen or be done in a particular situation, how it should happen, or who should do it.
What am I to do without him? [AUX to-inf]
Who is to say which of them had more power? [AUX to-inf]
What is to be done? [AUX to-inf]
7. auxiliary verb
You use was and were with an infinitive to talk about something that happened later than the time you are discussing, and was not planned or certain at that time.
Then he received a phone call that was to change his life. [AUX to-inf]
A few hours later he was to prove it. [AUX to-inf]
8. auxiliary verb
You can say that something is to be seen, heard, or found in a particular place to mean that people can see it, hear it, or find it in that place.
Little traffic was to be seen on the streets. [AUXILIARY -ed]
They are to be found all over the world. [AUXILIARY -ed]
More Synonyms of be
English Easy Learning GrammarBeThe verb be is used as an auxiliary verb and it can also be used as a main verb. SeeTypes of main verb. The verb be is irregular. It has eight different ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarActive and passiveActive sentences In the following example, the verb is active. The postman delivers hundreds of letters every day. The subject of an active sentence is ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarAspectWhen we use a verb, we often need to be able to refer to more than the time at whichan event took place. We sometimes need to be able to refer to actions ... Read more
be other verb uses
(bi, STRONG biː)
Word forms: 1st person singular presenttense am ( WEAK əm, STRONG æm), 2nd person singular presenttense, 3rd person singular presenttense are ( WEAK əʳ, STRONG ɑːʳ), 3rd person singular presenttense is, present participle being, 1st person singular pasttense was ( WEAK wəz, STRONG wɒz), 2nd person singular pasttense were ( WEAK wəʳ, STRONG wɜːʳ), past participle been ( WEAK bɪn, STRONG biːn)In spoken English, forms of be are often shortened, for example 'I am' is shortened to 'I'm' and 'was not' is shortenedto 'wasn't'.
1. link verb
You use be to introduce more information about the subject, such as its identity, nature, qualities, or position.
She's my mother. [VERB noun]
This is Elizabeth Blunt, BBC, West Africa. [VERB noun]
He is a very attractive man. [VERB noun]
My grandfather was a butcher. [VERB noun]
The fact that you were willing to pay in the end is all that matters. [VERB adjective]
He is fifty and has been through two marriages. [VERB noun]
The sky was black. [VERB adjective]
It is 1,267 feet high. [VERB adjective]
Cheney was in Madrid. [VERB preposition/adverb]
His house is next door. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Their last major film project was in 1964. [VERB preposition/adverb]
'Is it safe?'—'Well of course it is.' [VERB adjective]
He's still alive isn't he? [VERB adjective]
2. link verb
You use be, with 'it' as the subject, in clauses where you are describing something or giving your judgment of a situation.
It was too chilly for swimming. [VERB adjective]
Sometimes it is necessary to say no. [V adj to-inf]
It is likely that investors will face losses. [V adj that]
It's nice having friends to chat to. [V adj v-ing]
It's a good thing I brought lots of handkerchiefs. [VERB noun that]
It's no good just having meetings. [VERB noun verb-ing]
It's a good idea to avoid refined food. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
It's up to us to prove it. [V prep to-inf]
Synonyms: feel More Synonyms of be
3. link verb
You use be with the impersonal pronoun 'there' in expressions like there is and there are to say that something exists or happens.
Clearly there is a problem here.
There are very few cars on this street.
There was nothing new in the letter.
There were always things to think about when she went walking. [thereV n]
4. link verb
You use be as a link between a subject and a clause and in certain other clause structures,as shown below.
It was me she didn't like, not what I represented. [VERB noun]
What the media should not do is to exploit people's natural fears. [VERB to-infinitive]
Our greatest problem is convincing them. [VERB verb-ing]
The question was whether protection could be improved. [VERB wh]
All I knew was that I didn't want to be there. [VERB that]
Local residents said it was as if there had been a nuclear explosion. [V + as if]
5. link verb
You use be in expressions like the thing is and the point is to introduce a clause in which you make a statement or give your opinion.
[spoken]
The fact is, the players gave everything they had.
The plan is good; the problem is it doesn't go far enough.
6. link verb
You use be in expressions like to be fair, to be honest, or to be serious to introduce an additional statement or opinion, and to indicate that you are trying to be fair, honest, or serious.
She's always noticed. But then, to be honest, Ghislaine likes being noticed. [VERB adjective]
I felt as if I was in a dream, or, to be more accurate, a nightmare. [VERB adjective]
7. link verb
The form 'be' is used occasionally instead of the normal forms of the present tense, especially after 'whether'.
[formal]
The chemical agent, whether it be mustard gas or nerve gas, can be absorbed by theskin.
8. verb
If something is, it exists.
[mainly formal, or literary]
...to be or not to be. [VERB]
Synonyms: be alive, live, exist, survive More Synonyms of be
9. link verb
To be yourself means to behave in the way that is right and natural for you and your personality.
She'd learnt to be herself and to stand up for her convictions. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
Synonyms: remain More Synonyms of be
10.
See as happy etc as can/could be
11.
See if it wasn't for
12.
See be that as it may
13.
See not be yourself
be-
(bɪ-)
prefix
Be- can be added to a noun followed by an '-ed' suffix to form an adjective that indicates that a person is covered with or wearing thething named.
...bespeckled fur.
...a bespectacled librarian.
be in British English1
(biː, unstressed bɪ)
verbWord forms: 1st person singular present tenseamWord forms: 2nd personareWord forms: 3rd personisWord forms: plural present tenseareWord forms: 1st person singular past tensewasWord forms: 2nd personwereWord forms: 3rd personwasWord forms: plural past tensewereWord forms: present participlebeingWord forms: past participlebeen(intransitive)
1.
to have presence in the realm of perceived reality; exist; live
I think, therefore I am
not all that is can be understood
2. (used in the perfect or past perfect tenses only)
to pay a visit; go
have you been to Spain?
3.
to take place; occur
my birthday was last Thursday
4. (copula)
used as a linking verb between the subject of a sentence and its noun or adjective complement or complementing phrase. In this case be expresses the relationship of either essential or incidental equivalence or identity (John is a man; John is a musician) or specifies an essential or incidental attribute (honey is sweet; Susan is angry). It is also used with an adverbial complement to indicate a relationship of location in space or time (Bill is at the office; the dance is on Saturday)
5. (takes a present participle)
forms the progressive present tense
the man is running
6. (takes a past participle)
forms the passive voice of all transitive verbs and (archaically) certain intransitive ones
the film is being shown in many schools
I am done
7. (takes an infinitive)
expresses intention, expectation, supposition, or obligation
the president is to arrive at 9.30
you are not to leave before I say so
8. (takes a past participle)
forms the perfect or past perfect tense of certain intransitive verbs of motion, such as go or come
the last train is gone
9. be that as it may
Word origin
Old English bēon; related to Old High German bim am, Latin fui I have been, Greek phuein to bring forth, Sanskrit bhavati he is
be in British English2
the internet domain name for
Belgium
Be in British English
the chemical symbol for
beryllium
BE in British English
abbreviation for
1.
bill of exchange
2.
(in the US) Board of Education
3.
Bachelor of Education
4.
Bachelor of Engineering
Bé in British English
abbreviation for
Baumé
be- in British English
prefix forming verbs and verbalderivatives
1. (from nouns)
to surround completely; cover on all sides
befog
2. (from nouns)
to affect completely or excessively
bedazzle
3. (from nouns)
to consider as or cause to be
befool
befriend
4. (from nouns)
to provide or cover with
bejewel
5. (from verbs)
at, for, against, on, or over
bewail
berate
Word origin
Old English be-, bi-, unstressed variant of bīby
BE in American English
1.
Bachelor of Education
2.
Bachelor of Engineering
3.
bill of exchange
: also be, B/E
Also, for 1 & 2, B.E.
Be in American English1
Baumé
: also Bé
Be in American English2
Chemistry
beryllium
be in American English
(bi; unstressed bɪ)
verb intransitiveWord forms: was or were, been, ˈbeing
1. as a substantive verb, be means:
a.
to exist; live
Caesar is no more
b.
to happen or occur
when will the wedding be?
c.
to remain or continue
will he be here long?
d.
to come to; belong
peace be with you
e.
to have a place or position
the door is on your left
2.
as a copula, be links its subject to a predicate nominative, adjective, or pronoun so as to express attribution or identity, and by extension, value, cause, signification, etc.; it is sometimes equivalent to the mathematical sign (=)
Mrs. Siddons was an actress; he is handsome; that hat is fifty dollars; let x be y
auxiliary verb
3.
used with the past participle of a transitive verb to form the passive voice
he will be sued
4. Archaic
used with the past participle of certain intransitive verbs to form a perfect tense
Christ is risen
5.
used with the present participle of another verb to express continuation
the player is running with the ball
6.
used with the present participle or infinitive of another verb to express futurity, possibility, obligation, intention, etc.
he is starting next week, you are to help him
▶ USAGE: Be is conjugated in the present indicative: (I) am, (he, she, it) is, (we, you, they) are; in the past indicative: (I, he, she, it) was, (we, you, they) were; archaic forms are (thou) art, wert, wast; the present subjunctive is be, the past subjunctive were
Idioms:
be off!
Word origin
ME been, beon < OE beon: be is a defective verb with parts from three unrelated stems: 1) the IE substantiveverb, base *es-, as in am, is1, Sans ásmi, asti, Goth im, ist; 2) IE base *wes-, stay, remain, as in was, were, Sans vasati, (he) lingers, stays, Goth wisan, was, wēsum, remain, be; 3) IE base *bheu-, grow, become, (it) occurs, is there, L fieri, as in be, be verb intransitive, Sans bhávati, be, become: see bondage
be- in American English
(bi; bɪ; bə)
1. forming verbs
a.
around
besprinkle, beset
b.
completely, thoroughly, excessively
used as an intensifier
bedeck, besmear
c.
away
used as a privative
bereave, betake
d.
about
used as a transitive prefix
bethink, bemoan
, added to other verbs
2. forming transitive verbs
a.
make
besot, bedim
b.
furnish with, cover with, affect by, treat as
befriend, bedizen, becloud
, added to nouns and, sometimes, adjectives
3. forming adjectives
covered with, furnished with, furnished with to excess: added to past participles in -ed
bemedaled, bewhiskered
Word origin
ME bi-, be- < OE (akin to Goth bi-, Ger be-), at, near < Gmc base of by
Examples of 'be' in a sentence
be
More to the point, I'd be presenting myself with a fait accompli.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
She'd know I'd gone through her handbag of course -- things would be in the wrong place.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
What with Christian under sedation, there didn't seem to be any point in hanging around any longer.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
Kate would be tough enough to weather this, I'd seen her attack ivy like the Terminator.
Lisa Scottoline RUNNING FROM THE LAW (2001)
I've not mentioned it to the police be- cause I felt sure there was some reasonable explanation.
Penn, John UNTO THE GRAVE (2004)
"The police are there, and a said Boq, and turned to Elphaba.
Gregory Maguire WICKED: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST (2004)
Word lists with
be
internet
In other languages
be
British English: be /biː; bɪ/ VERB
person, thing You use be to say what a person or thing is like.