being

being — noun

1. a person, animal, or other creature thought of as one separate individual

1.nounC2
Definition

a person, animal, or other creature thought of as one separate individual

Example

No human being should sleep outside in winter.

human being

In the film, a green being steps out beside the village school.

a being from another world

Common collocations
  • human being
  • living being
  • intelligent being
  • strange being
Synonyms
  • creature

    usually points more directly to an animal or living life form.

  • entity

    more formal and often used in technical, legal, or philosophical contexts.

  • life form

    commonly used in science fiction or scientific discussion about living things.

Grammar Patterns

a human being

a living being

a strange being

intelligent beings

Usage Note

Usually countable, especially in phrases like 'human being' and 'living being'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is an uncountable abstract noun about existence itself.

Common Mistakes

There are many being on this island.
There are many beings on this island.
after 'many', use the plural countable form.

2. the condition of existing at all, especially in formal or abstract discussion

2.nounC2
Definition

the condition of existing at all, especially in formal or abstract discussion

Example

New safety rules came into being after the factory fire.

fixed phrase: come into being

The town library came into being with gifts from local families.

Common collocations
  • come into being
  • bring into being
  • pass into being
Synonyms
  • existence

    the closest everyday equivalent and usually the simplest substitute.

  • presence

    focuses more on someone or something being there than on existence in general.

  • reality

    often stresses what is true or actual, not only the fact of existing.

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

come into being

bring something into being

pass into being

Usage Note

Most often uncountable and especially common in the phrases 'come into being' and 'bring ... into being'. Distinguish from sense 1, where a being is a person, creature, or other separate thing.

Common Mistakes

The plan came into a being last year.
The plan came into being last year.
the fixed phrase uses no article before 'being'.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun sense 1, being is the broadest of these words. It can mean a person, an animal, or even something imagined, such as an alien or spirit. Creature usually sounds more physical and often points to an animal or a living thing with a body. Entity is more formal and often appears in legal, business, or philosophical writing when the speaker wants a neutral label. Life form strongly suggests biology or science fiction, so it fits best when life itself is the focus. You can say every human being deserves respect, a strange creature ran across the road, a business entity filed the papers, or scientists searched for life forms on Mars.

being ↗creature ↗entity ↗life form

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Being was formed inside English from the verb be. In Middle English, the -ing form of be developed into a noun meaning the fact of existing, and from there it also came to mean a person, creature, or other thing that exists.