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be

be

1.0
Help make tenses, passive voice, and continuous forms in sentences
  • auxiliary
  • /bi/
translation icon : estar (progresivo)
  • What you're feeling right now is a sense of loss.
  • was used
  • is saying
  • is considered

When my dad found out that it was me, bro.

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Examples

  • Those two fellows will be up to help you tomorrow.

  • Why do you want to be a knight so much?

  • So this would have been the first report.

  • We are aware of the changes and have been planning for them for some time.

    Academic text (2011)
  • According to our description, it must be a subset of the edges of the graph.

    Academic text (2011)
  • She is studying for her final exams next week.

  • The project has been completed ahead of schedule.

  • They are being very supportive during this difficult time.

Idioms

246 3.7

Planned or seen as certain to happen

to be honest
  • Informal
221 2.3

To show you are telling the truth or how you really feel

to be a man
  • Informal
117 7.3

Act with courage and responsibility when facing a hard situation

104 4.9

Admitting something is true before you say something else

We do not yet know what will happen

47 5.9

So good that you find it hard to believe

so be it
  • Formal
45 5.1

Accept a decision or result even if you are disappointed

Missing and cannot be found anywhere

31 9.9

An expression of strong surprise or refusal to do something

Feeling like you will throw up

21 7.6

Even if that is true, it does not change what happens next

the place to be
  • Informal
18 4.0

A popular place where many people go to have fun

17 3.7

A phrase that gives more exact information about what was just said

truth be told
  • Informal
17 5.6

You say it to show you are honest, even if it sounds awkward

Is not as good as expected or needed

15 8.4

To refuse to do something because you strongly dislike it

15 6.2

To politely ask someone to do something

13 6.3

To notice things quickly and act to fix them

11 3.9

When it is necessary to do something

Forgive past fights so they do not affect the present

to be a wuss
  • Offensive
8 9.9

To be too afraid to do something

Close enough to get what you want soon

8 7.7

As good or impressive as people say

Has a risk because the result is not certain

Act like you suffer or give up things for others to get sympathy

To make your own decisions without other people telling you what to do

7 9.8

Not as good or impressive as it was before

to be dynamite
  • Informal
6 8.3

To be very good and impress people

6 7.6

The most important thing or main aim

Let someone do or use something

to be a bomb
  • Slang
5 8.6

Fail completely so people see it does not work

5 4.6

To feel very happy and excited

to be a snob
  • Offensive
4 7.5

To act as if you are better than other people because of your money or taste

to be a doormat
  • Informal
4 8.4

To let other people treat you badly without saying no

to be a pig
  • Offensive
4 8.8

To take more than your fair share of food or things

to be a slob
  • Offensive
4 7.9

Act lazy and messy and not care about cleaning or keeping things tidy

Have many cuts and bruises or feel emotionally worn

To publicly show support, often when doing so is risky

to be the ticket
  • Informal
3 8.1

The most useful thing to get what you want

3 7.7

To try very hard to do something carefully

don't be a bastard
  • Offensive
3 9.9

Tell someone not to behave in a mean or unfair way

to be a chump
  • Offensive
3 9.2

To act foolishly and let people trick you

2 9.2

To politely say you do not want to do or be involved in something

fit to be tied
  • Informal
2 8.6

Feeling very angry and upset

to be a buffoon
  • Offensive
2 8.1

To act in a silly, embarrassing way to make people laugh

2 4.2

To imagine being in another person's situation to understand how they feel

1 7.0

Choose to forgive rather than fight back

to be a dolt
  • Offensive
1 9.4

Act in a foolish way and ignore good advice

To stay alert and ready for anything that might happen

Very different from each other in every way

to be a weasel
  • Offensive
1 9.7

To avoid blame by lying or being tricky

To accept a situation you cannot change

Phrasal Verbs

1.0

To start life as a baby when you come into the world

1.4

To be called a certain name or thought to have a certain reputation

1.0

To appear on television or radio

to be like
  • Informal
8.6

Show what someone says or thinks in informal speech

979 1.0

Take care to avoid danger or getting hurt

775 1.3

Exist or stay in a place for a time and be available if needed

to be there for
  • Informal
443 2.7

To help and support someone when they are going through a hard time

374 3.0

To happen because of something

Have a strong reaction to certain foods, plants, or animals

231 1.0

To stop making noise or talking

113 8.6

Agree with and support an idea or plan

109 1.7

To bring food or drink up from the stomach through the mouth

89 1.0

To move your body often by doing exercise or play

88 2.1

Act in a foolish or playful way without taking things seriously

to be a thing
  • Informal
64 6.6

To become popular or common, like a new fashion

to be on to
  • Informal
54 6.8

To know that someone has secret plans and is about to be found out

to be a good girl
  • Baby Talk
44 4.9

To behave well and follow instructions when told by an adult

To have a hopeful, confident attitude in hard times

33 4.1

Accept a situation without trying to change it

to be with it
  • Informal
22 7.9

To understand current ideas and styles

20 3.9

Think someone or something is a certain thing

16 7.9

Have sex with someone

to be stumped
  • Informal
15 6.4

Cannot think of an answer or solution

To be proved correct after checking

To feel sick and want to throw up because of motion or a strong smell

The weather is very cold outside

6 6.3

To be carried along by water or wind without control

To act naturally and honestly without pretending to be someone else

To accept responsibility for a child's religious life at their baptism

to be a poser
  • Offensive
2 8.9

To pretend to be someone you are not to impress others

to be a scab
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Work during a strike while other workers protest, making the strike weaker

to be level with
  • Informal
1 5.8

To be honest and direct with someone

to be mother
  • Archaic
1 9.8

To look after others and serve drinks like tea or coffee

to be salty
  • Slang
1 8.9

To feel angry and upset about something small or unfair

to leave it be
  • Informal
1 5.1

To let something stay as it is without changing it

to be a dickwad
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Act in a rude, foolish way that annoys or upsets other people

to be a hardo
  • Offensive
9.9

To act too tough or serious in a way that pushes other people away

to be a jagoff
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a rude, annoying way toward other people

to be a neek
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a socially awkward and uncool way by focusing only on studying

to be a nerk
  • Offensive
9.9

To do silly things that make problems for yourself

to be a nobber
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a silly and annoying way

to be a scanger
  • Offensive
9.9

To take things from other people without giving anything back

to be a bamma
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a silly or clumsy way that annoys people

to be a dink
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude or foolish way that annoys other people

To be honest and clear about what you must do

9.5

To not want to give or share things

to be mumpish
  • Archaic
9.9

To feel quiet and unhappy when things do not go your way

Compounds

24 2.8

A woman who is engaged to be married

2 3.0

A man who will soon get married

corpse-to-be
  • Slang
9.9

A person who looks almost dead from being very tired

A joking name for a woman whose real name people avoid saying

Surface Forms

be infinitive
were past
being present participle
is third person singular
are third person singular
was past
been past participle

Etymology

Be comes from old verbs beon ('to become') and wesan ('to exist'), and because it once covered many senses it now has many forms like was and were and works as a helper verb. That is why we use be to make tenses, passive voice, and continuous forms.