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“Be” or “Bee”

be / bee are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

be b·IY

  • verbhave the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun).
  • verbbe identical to; be someone or something.
  • verboccupy a certain position or area; be somewhere.
  • verbhappen, occur, take place.
  • verbwork in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function.
  • verbspend or use time.
  • verbhave life, be alive.
  • verbto remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form.

bee b·IY

  • nounany of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species.
  • nouna social gathering to carry out some communal task or to hold competitions.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“be”

  • However, they can be made subservient by repeating the…
  • …that these profiles should only be deleted in "exceptional circumstances" were…
  • …population considered the Nazis to be liberators saving them from the…
  • We either had to be bigger or smaller."
  • They claim to be behind the attack on the…
  • …noted: "If anything, Hugh should be wearing the uniform of the…
  • …proposed 'Manhattan International Airport' would be the largest public works project…
  • He went on to be named first team All-Pac-12 that
  • The sand ridge is believed to be an artifact of…
  • They were found to be incompatible with the European Convention…

“bee”

  • …under the leadership of Queen Bee.
  • …rufescens is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae.
  • "More Than a Woman" – Bee Gees
  • …Woest (aka "Eddie"), a commercial bee keeper, homesteaded 160 acres acquired…
  • …1935 obituary in the Fresno Bee: "[Cooper] put into operation [in…
  • …in the comparable National History Bee and Bowl; the same organization,…
  • Bee Gees
  • The International History Bee and Bowl (IHBB) are history…
  • …are shown to serve Queen Bee when they attack S.T.A.R.
  • The International History Bee and Bowl test knowledge of…

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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