been

verb

past participle of be

: to equal in meaning : have the same connotation as : symbolize

God is love

January is the first month

let x be 10

: to have identity with : to constitute the same idea or object as

The first person I met was my brother.

: to constitute the same class as

These three books are the authoritative works on the president's life.

: to have a specified qualification or characterization

The leaves are green.

: to belong to the class of

the fish is a trout

Keeping this room clean is your responsibility.

—used regularly in senses 1a through 1e as the copula of simple predication

: to have an objective existence : have reality or actuality : live

I think, therefore I am

: to have, maintain, or occupy a place, situation, or position

the book is on the table

: to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted

—used only in infinitive form

let him be

: to take place : occur

the concert was last night

: to come or go

has already been and gone

has never been to the circus

archaic : belong, befall

… to thine and Albany's issue be this perpetual.

Shakespeare

—used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive-voice auxiliary

the money was foundthe house is being built

—used as the auxiliary of the present participle in progressive tenses expressing continuous action

he is readingI have been sleeping

—used with the past participle of some intransitive verbs as an auxiliary forming archaic perfect tenses

… Christ is risen from the dead … — 1 Corinthians 15:20 (Douay Version)

—used with to + infinitive to express futurity, arrangement in advance, or obligation

I am to interview him todayshe was to become famous