been

[bin, ben] / bɪn, bɛn /

VERB

exist

Synonyms

STRONG

abide act breathe continue do endure hold inhabit last live move obtain persist prevail remain rest stand stay subsist survive

WEAK

be alive go on have being have place

Antonyms

STRONG

cease depart die discontinue forsake give up go halt idle leave lose pass quit refuse reject stop

VERB

happen

Synonyms

STRONG

befall occur transpire

WEAK

come about come to pass take place

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The newly described species was announced in the journal Zootaxa after researchers confirmed that the unusual octopus had never been documented before.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

Almost 30,000 native trees of Irish provenance, such as oak, alder and rowan, have been planted on the 41-acre site which is situated at Lenamore Wood, near Gortin in Omagh.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

"I've been in a family, in a system, in an institution that's kept my voice silent," he said.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

Eoghan Daltun has been rewilding his own farm and restoring temperate rainforests privately for the past 17 years.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

“We were going to get married!” she told her parents—it was the truth!—but the cart had already preceded the horse, the milk had been drunk without the cow’s purchase, et cetera, et cetera.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith