Been: meaning, definitions and examples

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been

 

[ biหn ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

past participle

Been is the past participle of the verb 'to be.' It indicates a state of existence or presence that has occurred at some time in the past. It is often used to form perfect tenses.

Synonyms

been present, existed, occurred.

Examples of usage

  • I have been working here for five years.
  • She has been to Paris twice.
  • They had been waiting for over an hour.
Context #2 | Verb

passive voice

In passive constructions, 'been' is used to indicate that an action has been performed on the subject by an agent. It focuses on the action rather than the doer.

Synonyms

happened, occurred, taken place.

Examples of usage

  • The book has been read by many people.
  • The project has been completed ahead of schedule.
  • The cake had been eaten before I arrived.

Translations

Translations of the word "been" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น sido

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฐเคนเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช gewesen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ telah

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฑัƒะฒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ byล‚

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ ใฃใŸ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท รฉtรฉ

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sido

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท olmuลŸ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์žˆ์—ˆ๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูƒุงู†

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ byl

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ bol

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ˜ฏ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ bil

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ veriรฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะพะปะดั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ˜แƒงแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ olub

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ sido

Etymology

The word 'been' originates from the Old English 'beon', which has Germanic roots linked to the Proto-Germanic '*beunฤ…', meaning 'to be'. The transition from Old English to Middle English saw 'beon' evolve into 'ben', demonstrating a phonetic shift common in the language's development. As English transitioned into its modern form, 'been' became established as the past participle of 'to be', a verb that is central to English grammar. Its usage in perfect tenses signifies actions or states that are connected to the present moment, highlighting the importance of this word in everyday communication. This evolution reflects broader shifts in pronunciation and usage that have significantly shaped the English language.