Be Definition & Meaning

be
noun
  1. a light strong brittle grey toxic bivalent metallic element
verb
  1. have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer"
  2. be identical to; be someone or something; "The president of the company is John Smith"; "This is my house"
  3. occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere; "Where is my umbrella?" "The toolshed is in the back"; "What is behind this behavior?"
  4. have an existence, be extant; "Is there a God?"
  5. happen, occur, take place; "I lost my wallet; this was during the visit to my parents' house"; "There were two hundred people at his funeral"; "There was a lot of noise in the kitchen"
  6. be identical or equivalent to; "One dollar equals 1,000 rubles these days!"
  7. form or compose; "This money is my only income"; "The stone wall was the backdrop for the performance"; "These constitute my entire belonging"; "The children made up the chorus"; "This sum represents my entire income for a year"; "These few men comprise his entire army"
  8. work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function; "He is a herpetologist"; "She is our resident philosopher"
  9. represent, as of a character on stage; "Derek Jacobi was Hamlet"
  10. spend or use time; "I may be an hour"
  11. have life, be alive; "Our great leader is no more"; "My grandfather lived until the end of war"
  12. to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form; "let her be"
  13. be priced at; "These shoes cost $100"

"Be" in song lyrics

See how be is used in real songs:

  • "You and me got to be"
    1200 Techniques f/ Rashad Houghton — Fork in the Road
  • "Cause honestly thats how its got to be"
    1200 Techniques f/ Rashad Houghton — Fork in the Road
  • "Sittin' round, talkin' bout what we gon' be"
    Melodie f/ 12 O'Clock — Stay With Me

Words that rhyme with be

Usage tips for "be"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "be" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for be to find words that pair well.

Use "be" in a verse

Now that you know what "be" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

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