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to be

to be

75 4.9
Stay alone without others touching or changing it
  • verb
  • /bi/
: permanecer
  • There's been some very generous alumni endowments since these boys stepped foot on this campus.
  • let things be

Examples

  • In Danisha's school, there is a small percentage of African-American teachers of gifted students.

    Academic text (1998)
  • As such, we expected there to be collateral intervention effects for the TD sample.

    Academic text (2013)
  • But there would not be anything there without the light of the moon.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The boy thought that there must be a secret between them.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • There may be some matches over there.

  • We both knew, from day one... there would be complications.

  • Otherwise, there will be no more food in the house, and we will starve.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • For example, there should be enough moisture to keep ammonia in solution.

    Academic text (1999)
  • But, in fact, there may be many reasons why particular students have difficulty becoming connected knowers.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Please allow the children to be free to explore their creativity.

Synonyms

to stay
vsto be
∞ 1.0

To remain in one place and not leave

focuses on a left undisturbed condition rather than an intentional act of staying
to leave alone
vsto be
∞ 2.3

To avoid touching and disturbing a person, animal or object

focuses on the state of remaining undisturbed rather than the action
to leave it be
vsto be
  • Informal
10 5.1

To let something stay as it is without changing it

describes a passive state left undisturbed rather than an instruction
to let it alone
vsto be
3 3.0

Choose not to touch or change something

refers to the unchanged condition rather than the choice not to act
to leave behind
vsto be
1 2.1

To not take or change something so it stays where it is

covers the general state of remaining undisturbed rather than the act of omission

Antonyms

796 2.5

To stop someone speaking or an activity

285 2.1

Interrupt someone's quiet or stop them from resting

Idioms

to be honest
  • Informal
541 2.3

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

415 3.7

Planned or seen as certain to happen

so be it
  • Formal
94 5.1

Accept a decision or result even if you are disappointed

to be a man
  • Informal
80 7.3

Act with courage and responsibility when facing a hard situation

77 4.9

Admitting something is true before you say something else

Let someone do or use something

We do not yet know what will happen

truth be told
  • Informal
56 5.6

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

56 5.9

So good that you find it hard to believe

50 9.9

An expression of strong surprise or refusal to do something

37 4.2

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

Missing and cannot be found anywhere

33 3.9

When it is necessary to do something

33 9.9

A strong way to say you refuse or do not believe something

31 3.7

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

31 7.6

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

the place to be
  • Informal
26 4.0

A popular place where many people go to have fun

20 6.2

To politely ask someone to do something

Has a risk because the result is not certain

Is not as good as expected or needed

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

she'll be right
  • Australian
14 9.9

Everything will be fine

12 7.7

As good or impressive as people say

Forgive past fights so they do not affect the present

to be dynamite
  • Informal
12 8.3

To be very good and impress people

to be a snob
  • Offensive
11 7.5

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

11 8.4

To refuse to do something because you strongly dislike it

10 9.2

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

to be a wuss
  • Offensive
8 9.9

To be too afraid to do something

to be the ticket
  • Informal
7 8.1

The most useful thing to get what you want

to be such an arse
  • Offensive
6 9.9

To act rudely and annoy other people

glory be
  • Archaic
6 8.6

Words people say to show relief, joy or surprise

Very different from each other in every way

to be a slob
  • Offensive
5 7.9

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

5 9.8

Not as good or impressive as it was before

4 6.3

To notice things quickly and act to fix them

4 9.9

To feel very excited and moved by something you like

4 7.6

The most important thing or main aim

4 7.7

To try very hard to do something carefully

To publicly show support, often when doing so is risky

I'll be darned
  • Informal
4 9.9

A way to say you are surprised or do not believe something

3 4.9

People who need something must accept what they are given

To accept a situation you cannot change

3 7.0

Choose to forgive rather than fight back

to be a doormat
  • Informal
3 8.4

To let other people treat you badly without saying no

Close enough to get what you want soon

3 6.7

A wish of good luck people say to encourage someone, often playfully

Feeling like you will throw up

Words that comfort someone by saying things will get better

fit to be tied
  • Informal
3 8.6

Feeling very angry and upset

3 4.6

To feel very happy and excited

to be a pig
  • Offensive
2 8.8

To take more than your fair share of food or things

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 1.0

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

to be like
  • Informal
∞ 8.6

Show what someone says or thinks in informal speech

∞ 1.0

Take care to avoid danger or getting hurt

∞ 1.3

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

445 1.0

To stop making noise or talking

392 1.4

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

to be there for
  • Informal
327 2.7

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

285 1.0

To appear on television or radio

266 1.0

To move your body often by doing exercise or play

203 3.0

To happen because of something

198 2.1

Act in a foolish or playful way without taking things seriously

124 3.2

To have a hopeful, confident attitude in hard times

to be on to
  • Informal
63 6.8

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

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

49 4.1

Accept a situation without trying to change it

41 7.9

Have sex with someone

to be a good girl
  • Baby Talk
38 4.9

To behave well and follow instructions when told by an adult

to be mother
  • Archaic
22 9.8

To look after others and serve drinks like tea or coffee

To be proved correct after checking

to be a thing
  • Informal
19 6.6

To become popular or common, like a new fashion

11 6.3

To be carried along by water or wind without control

to be stumped
  • Informal
10 6.4

Cannot think of an answer or solution

to leave it be
  • Informal
10 5.1

To let something stay as it is without changing it

7 8.6

Agree with and support an idea or plan

Think someone or something is a certain thing

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

to be level with
  • Informal
2 5.8

To be honest and direct with someone

to be a poser
  • Offensive
2 8.9

To pretend to be someone you are not to impress others

to be with it
  • Informal
2 7.9

To understand current ideas and styles

to be salty
  • Slang
2 8.9

To feel angry and upset about something small or unfair

The weather is very cold outside

to be a dickwad
  • Offensive
1 9.9

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

to be a scab
  • Offensive
1 9.9

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

To act naturally and honestly without pretending to be someone else

To be honest and clear about what you must do

to be a dink
  • Offensive
1 9.9

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

1 9.5

To not want to give or share things

1 1.7

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

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

to be mumpish
  • Archaic
9.9

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

Compounds

26 2.8

A woman who is engaged to be married

2 3.0

A man who will soon get married

corpse-to-be
  • Slang
1 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

Etymology

Be comes from old verbs beon ('to become') and wesan ('to exist'), and the 'to exist' sense explains 'let it be' as a simple idea: let it stay or continue to 'exist' as it is.