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be VERB

1 It hurt so badly he wished to cease to be. = be alive, live, exist, survive, breathe, last, be present, continue, endure, be living, be extant, happen 2 The film's premiere is next week. = take place, happen, occur, arise, come about, transpire (informal), befall, come to passbeach NOUN = shore, coast, sands, margin, strand, seaside, shingle, lakeside, water's edge, lido, foreshore, seashore, plage, littoral, sea (chiefly U.S.)beached ADJECTIVE = stranded, grounded, abandoned, deserted, wrecked, ashore, marooned, aground, high and drybeacon NOUN 1 = signal, sign, rocket, beam, flare, bonfire, smoke signal, signal fire 2 = lighthouse, pharos, watchtowerbead NOUN beads of sweat = drop, tear, bubble, pearl, dot, drip, blob, droplet, globule, driblet ▸ PLURAL NOUN baubles, bangles and beads = necklace, pearls, pendant, choker, necklet, chapletbeady ADJECTIVE = bright, powerful, concentrated, sharp, intense, shining, glittering, gleaming, glintingbeak NOUN 1 a black bird with a yellow beak = bill, nib, neb (archaic, dialect), mandible 2 his sharp, aristocratic beak = nose, snout, hooter (slang), snitch (slang), conk (slang), neb (archaic, dialect), proboscis, schnozzle (slang, chiefly U.S.)beam VERB 1 She beamed at her friend with undisguised admiration. = smile, grin 2 The interview was beamed live across America. = transmit, show, air, broadcast, cable, send out, relay, televise, stream, radio, emit, put on the air 3 A sharp white spotlight beamed down on a small stage. = radiate, flash, shine, glow, glitter, glare, gleam, emit light, give off light ▸ NOUN 1 a beam of light = ray, bar, flash, stream, glow, radiation, streak, emission, shaft, gleam, glint, glimmer 2 The ceilings are supported by oak beams. = rafter, support, timber, spar, plank, girder, joist 3 She knew he had news, because of the beam on his face. = smile, grinbeaming ADJECTIVE 1 his mother's beaming face = smiling, happy, grinning, pleasant, sunny, cheerful, cheery, joyful, chirpy (informal), light-hearted 2 A beaming sun rose out of the sea. = radiating, bright, brilliant, flashing, shining, glowing, sparkling, glittering, gleaming, glimmering, radiant, glistening, scintillating, burnished, lustrousbear VERB 1 a surveyor and his assistant bearing a torch = carry, take, move, bring, lift, transfer, conduct, transport, haul, transmit, convey, relay, tote (informal), hump (Brit. slang), lug ◼ OPPOSITE: put down 2 The ice was not thick enough to bear the weight of marching men. = support, shoulder, sustain, endure, uphold, withstand, bear up under ◼ OPPOSITE: give up 3 notepaper bearing the President's seal = display, have, show, hold, carry, possess, exhibit 4 She bore her sufferings bravely. = suffer, feel, experience, go through, sustain, stomach, endure, undergo, admit, brook, hack (slang), abide, put up with (informal) 5 He can't bear to talk about it, even to me. = bring yourself to, allow, accept, permit, endure, tolerate, hack (informal), countenance 6 The plants grow and start to bear fruit. = produce, develop, generate, yield, bring forth 7 She bore a son called Karl. = give birth to, produce, deliver, breed, bring forth, beget (old-fashioned) 8 She bore no ill will. If they didn't like her, too bad. = exhibit, hold, maintain, entertain, harbour, cherish 9 There was elegance and simple dignity in the way he bore himself. = conduct, carry, move, deport ● bear down on someone or something The storm is expected to bear down on the area in the early hours. = advance on, attack, approach, move towards, close in on, converge on, move in on, come near to, draw near to ● bear down on something or someone She felt as if a great weight was bearing down on her shoulders. = press down, push, strain, crush, compress, weigh down, encumber ● bear on something The remaining 32 examples do not bear on our problem. = be relevant to, involve, concern, affect, regard, refer to, be part of, relate to, belong to, apply to, be appropriate, befit, pertain to, touch upon, appertain to ● bear something out His photographs do not quite bear this out. = support, prove, confirm, justify, endorse, uphold, vindicate, validate, substantiate, corroborate, legitimize ● bear with someone If you'll bear with me, Frank, I can explain everything. = be patient with, suffer, wait for, hold on (informal), stand by, tolerate, put up with (informal), make allowances for, hang firebearable ADJECTIVE = tolerable, acceptable, sustainable, manageable, passable, admissible, supportable, endurable, sufferable ◼ OPPOSITE: intolerablebeard NOUN = whiskers, bristles, stubble, five-o'clock shadowbearded ADJECTIVE = unshaven, hairy, whiskered, stubbly, bushy, shaggy, hirsute (formal), bristly, bewhiskeredbearer NOUN 1 I hate to be the bearer of bad news. = agent, carrier, courier, herald, envoy, messenger, conveyor, emissary, harbinger (literary) 2 a flag bearer = carrier, runner, servant, porter 3 This voucher entitles the bearer to one free meal. = payee, beneficiary, consigneebearing NOUN 1 (usually with on or upon) My father's achievements don't have any bearing on what I do. = relevance, relation, application, connection, import, reference, significance, pertinence, appurtenance ◼ OPPOSITE: irrelevance 2 She later wrote warmly of his bearing and behaviour. = manner, attitude, conduct, appearance, aspect, presence, behaviour, tone, carriage, posture, demeanour, deportment, mien (literary), air, comportment 3 I'm flying on a bearing of ninety-three degrees. = position, course, direction, point of compass ▸ PLURAL NOUN I lost my bearings and was just aware of cars roaring past. = way, course, position, situation, track, aim, direction, location, orientation, whereaboutsbearish ADJECTIVE = falling, declining, slumpingbeast NOUN 1 the threats our ancestors faced from wild beasts = animal, creature, brute 2 He is an absolute beast in terms of his will to win. = brute, monster, savage, barbarian, fiend, swine, ogre, ghoul, sadistbeastly ADJECTIVE 1 The weather was beastly. = unpleasant, mean, terrible (informal), awful, nasty, foul, rotten (informal), horrid (informal), disagreeable, irksome ◼ OPPOSITE: pleasant 2 He must be wondering why everyone is being so beastly to him. = cruel, mean (informal), nasty, harsh, savage, brutal, coarse, monstrous, malicious, insensitive, sadistic, unfriendly, unsympathetic, uncaring, spiteful, thoughtless, brutish, barbarous, unfeeling, inconsiderate, bestial, uncharitable, unchristian, hardhearted ◼ OPPOSITE: humanebeat VERB 1 He lost the boxing match and was badly beaten by his opponent. = batter, break, hit, strike, knock, punch, belt (informal), whip, deck (slang), bruise, bash (informal), sock (slang), lash, chin (slang), pound, smack, thrash, cane, thump, lick (informal), buffet, clout (informal), flog, whack (informal), maul, clobber (slang), wallop (informal), tonk (informal), cudgel, thwack (informal), lambast(e), lay one on (slang), drub, beat or knock seven bells out of (informal) 2 The rain was beating on the window panes. = pound, strike, hammer (informal), batter, thrash, pelt 3 I felt my heart beat faster. = throb, pulse, tick, thump, tremble, pound, quake, quiver, vibrate, pulsate, palpitate 4 When you beat the drum, you feel good. = hit, strike, bang 5 Its wings beat slowly. = flap, thrash, flutter, agitate, wag, swish 6 He was easily beaten into third place. = defeat, outdo, trounce, overcome, stuff (slang), master, tank (slang), crush, overwhelm, conquer, lick (informal), undo, subdue, excel, surpass, overpower, outstrip, clobber (slang), vanquish, outrun, subjugate, run rings around (informal), wipe the floor with (informal), knock spots off (informal), make mincemeat of (informal), pip at the post, outplay, blow out of the water (slang), put in the shade (informal), bring to their knees ▸ NOUN 1 He could hear the beat of his heart. = throb, pounding, pulse, thumping, vibration, pulsating, palpitation, pulsation 2 I was a relatively new PC on the beat, stationed in Hendon. = route, way, course, rounds, path, circuit ● beat it Beat it before it's too late. = go away, leave, depart, get lost (informal), shoo, exit, go to hell (informal), hook it (slang), scarper (Brit. slang), pack your bags (informal), make tracks, hop it (slang), scram (informal), get on your bike (Brit. slang), skedaddle (informal), sling your hook (Brit. slang), vamoose (slang, chiefly U.S.), voetsek (S. African offensive), rack off (Austral. & N.Z. slang) ● beat someone up Then they actually beat him up as well. = assault, attack, batter, thrash, set about, do over (Brit. & Austral. & N.Z. slang), work over (slang), clobber (slang), assail, set upon, lay into (informal), put the boot in (slang), lambast(e), duff up (Brit. slang), beat the living daylights out of (informal), knock about or around, fill in (Brit. slang), beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)beaten ADJECTIVE 1 Before you is a well-worn path of beaten earth. = well-trodden, worn, trodden, trampled, well-used, much travelled 2 Cool a little and slowly add the beaten eggs. = stirred, mixed, whipped, blended, whisked, frothy, foamy 3 brightly painted beaten metal = shaped, worked, formed, stamped, hammered, forged 4 They had looked a beaten side with just seven minutes left. = defeated, overcome, frustrated, overwhelmed, cowed, thwarted, vanquished, disheartenedbeating NOUN 1 the savage beating of a prisoner = thrashing, hiding (informal), belting (informal), whipping (slang), slapping, tanning, lashing, smacking, caning, pasting (slang), flogging, drubbing, corporal punishment, chastisement 2 A beating at Wembley would be too much of a trauma for them. = defeat, ruin, overthrow, pasting (slang), conquest, rout, downfallbeau NOUN (old-fashioned) = boyfriend, man, guy (informal), date, lover, young man, steady, escort, admirer, fiancé, sweetheart, suitor, swain (archaic), toy boy, leman (archaic), fancy man (slang), bae (U.S. informal)beautiful ADJECTIVE = attractive, pretty, lovely, stunning (informal), charming, tempting, pleasant, handsome, fetching (informal), good-looking, gorgeous (informal), fine, pleasing, fair, magnetic, delightful, cute, exquisite, enticing, seductive, graceful, captivating, appealing, radiant, alluring, drop-dead (slang), ravishing, bonny (Scot. & Northern English dialect), winsome, comely (old-fashioned), prepossessing, hot (informal), fit (Brit. informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: uglybeautify VERB = make beautiful, enhance, decorate, enrich, adorn, garnish, ornament, gild, embellish, grace, festoon, bedeck, glamorizebeauty NOUN 1 an area of outstanding natural beauty = attractiveness, charm, grace, bloom, glamour, fairness, elegance, symmetry (formal, literary), allure, loveliness, handsomeness, pulchritude, comeliness (old-fashioned), exquisiteness, seemliness ◼ OPPOSITE: ugliness 2 She is known as a great beauty. = good-looker, looker (informal), lovely (slang), sensation, dazzler, belle, goddess, Venus, peach (informal), cracker (slang), wow (slang, chiefly U.S.), dolly (slang), knockout (informal), heart-throb, stunner (informal), charmer, smasher (informal), humdinger (slang), glamour puss, beaut (Austral. & N.Z. slang) 3 the beauty of such water-based minerals = advantage, good, use, benefit, profit, gain, asset, attraction, blessing, good thing, utility, excellence, boon ◼ OPPOSITE: disadvantagebecalmed ADJECTIVE = still, stuck, settled, stranded, motionlessbecause CONJUNCTION She didn't come along because she wasn't feeling well. = since, as, in that ● because of He failed because of a lack of money. = as a result of, on account of, by reason of, thanks to, owing to

USAGE The phrase on account of can provide a useful alternative to because of in writing. It occurs relatively infrequently in spoken language, where it is sometimes followed by a clause, as in on account of I don't drink coffee. However, this use is considered nonstandard.

beckon VERB 1 He beckoned to the waiter. = gesture, sign, wave, indicate, signal, nod, motion, summon, gesticulate 2 All the attractions of the peninsula beckon. = lure, call, draw, pull (informal), attract, invite, tempt, entice, coax, allurebecome VERB 1 After leaving school, he became a professional footballer. = come to be, develop into, be transformed into, grow into, change into, evolve into, alter to, mature into, metamorphose into, ripen into 2 Does khaki become you? = suit, fit, enhance, flatter, ornament, embellish, grace, harmonize with, set off ● become of something or someone What will become of him? = happen to, befall (archaic, literary), betidebecoming ADJECTIVE 1 Softer fabrics are much more becoming than stiffer ones. = flattering, pretty, attractive, enhancing, neat, graceful, tasteful, well-chosen, comely (old-fashioned) ◼ OPPOSITE: unflattering 2 This behaviour is not becoming among our politicians. = appropriate, right, seemly, fitting, fit, correct, suitable, decent, proper, worthy, in keeping, compatible, befitting, decorous, comme il faut (French), congruous, meet (archaic) ◼ OPPOSITE: inappropriatebed NOUN 1 She went in to her bedroom and lay down on the bed. = bedstead, couch, berth, cot, pallet, divan 2 beds of strawberries and rhubarb = plot, area, row, strip, patch, ground, land, garden, border 3 the bare bed of a dry stream = bottom, ground, floor 4 a sandstone bed = base, footing, basis, bottom, foundation, underpinning, groundwork, bedrock, substructure, substratum ▸ VERB The slabs can then be bedded on mortar to give rigid paving. = fix, set, found, base, plant, establish, settle, root, sink, insert, implant, embed ● bed down They bedded down in the fields. = sleep, lie down, retire, turn in (informal), settle down, kip (Brit. slang), hit the hay (slang)bedclothes PLURAL NOUN = bedding, covers, sheets, blankets, linen, pillow, quilt, duvet, pillowcase, bed linen, coverlet, eiderdownbedding NOUN = bedclothes, covers, sheets, blankets, linen, pillow, quilt, duvet, pillowcase, bed linen, coverlet, eiderdownbedeck VERB = decorate, grace, trim, array, enrich, adorn, garnish, ornament, embellish, festoon, beautify, bedight (archaic), bedizen (archaic), engarlandbedevil VERB = plague, worry, trouble, frustrate, torture, irritate, torment, harass, hassle (informal), aggravate (informal), afflict, pester, vex, irkbedlam NOUN = pandemonium, noise, confusion, chaos, turmoil, clamour, furore, uproar, commotion, rumpus, babel, tumult, hubbub, ruction (informal), hullabaloo, hue and cry, ruckus (informal)bedraggled ADJECTIVE = messy, soiled, dirty, disordered, stained, dripping, muddied, muddy, drenched, ruffled, untidy, sodden, sullied, dishevelled, rumpled, unkempt, tousled, disarranged, disarrayed, daggy (Austral. & N.Z. informal)bedridden ADJECTIVE = confined to bed, confined, incapacitated, laid up (informal), flat on your backbedrock NOUN 1 Mutual trust is the bedrock of a relationship. = first principle, rule, basis, basics, principle, essentials, roots, core, fundamentals, cornerstone, nuts and bolts (informal), sine qua non (Latin), rudiment 2 It took five years to drill down to bedrock. = bottom, bed, foundation, underpinning, rock bottom, substructure, substratumbee NOUN ◼ RELATED WORDS: adjective apian; noun swarm, grist; name of home hive, apiarybeef NOUN = complaint, dispute, grievance, problem, grumble, criticism, objection, dissatisfaction, annoyance, grouse, gripe (informal), protestation, grouch (informal), remonstrancebeefy ADJECTIVE = brawny, strong, powerful, athletic, strapping, robust, hefty (informal), muscular, swole (slang), hench (informal), sturdy, stalwart, bulky, burly, stocky, hulking, well-built, herculean, sinewy, thickset ◼ OPPOSITE: scrawnybeehive NOUN = hive, colony, comb, swarm, honeycomb, apiarybeer NOUN = ale, brew, swipes (Brit. slang), wallop (Brit. slang), hop juice, amber fluid or nectar (Austral. informal), tinnie or tinny (Austral. slang)beer parlour NOUN (Canad.) = tavern, inn, bar, pub (informal, chiefly Brit.), public house, watering hole (facetious, slang), boozer (Brit. & Austral. & N.Z. informal), beverage room (Canad.), hostelrybefall VERB = happen to, fall upon, occur in, take place in, ensue in, transpire in (informal), materialize in, come to pass inbefit VERB = be appropriate for, become, suit, be fitting for, be suitable for, be seemly for, behove (U.S.)befitting ADJECTIVE = appropriate to, right for, suitable for, fitting for, fit for, becoming to, seemly for, proper for, apposite to, meet (archaic) ◼ OPPOSITE: unsuitable forbefore PREPOSITION 1 Annie was born a few weeks before Christmas. = earlier than, ahead of, prior to, in advance of ◼ OPPOSITE: after 2 They stopped before a large white villa. = in front of, ahead of, in advance of, to the fore of 3 The Government will appear before the committee. = in the presence of, in front of 4 I saw before me an idyllic life. = ahead of, in front of, in advance of ▸ ADVERB 1 The war had ended only a month or so before. = previously, earlier, sooner, in advance, formerly ◼ OPPOSITE: after 2 I've been here before. = in the past, earlier, once, previously, formerly, at one time, hitherto (formal), beforehand, a while ago, heretofore, in days or years gone by ◼ RELATED WORD: prefixes ante-, fore-, pre-beforehand ADVERB = in advance, before, earlier, already, sooner, ahead, previously, in anticipation, before now, ahead of timebefriend VERB = make friends with, back, help, support, benefit, aid, encourage, welcome, favour, advise, sustain, assist, stand by, uphold, side with, patronize, succourbefuddle VERB = confuse, puzzle, baffle, bewilder, muddle, daze, perplex, mystify, disorient, faze, stupefy, flummox, bemuse, intoxicate ◼ OPPOSITE: make clearbefuddled ADJECTIVE = confused, upset, puzzled, baffled, at sea, bewildered, muddled, dazed, perplexed, taken aback, intoxicated, disorientated, disorganized, muzzy (informal), groggy (informal), flummoxed, woozy (informal), at sixes and sevens, fuddled, inebriated, thrown off balance, discombobulated (informal), not with it (informal), not knowing if you are coming or goingbeg VERB 1 I begged him to come back to England with me. = implore, plead with, beseech, desire (formal), request, pray, petition, conjure (formal), crave (informal), solicit, entreat, importune (formal), supplicate, go on bended knee to 2 I was surrounded by people begging for food. = scrounge (informal), bum (informal), blag (slang), touch (someone) for (slang), mooch (slang), cadge, forage for, hunt around (for), sponge on (someone) for, freeload (slang), seek charity, call for alms, solicit charity ◼ OPPOSITE: give 3 The research begs a number of questions. = dodge, avoid, get out of, duck (informal), hedge, parry, shun, evade, elude, fudge, fend off, eschew, flannel (Brit. informal), sidestep, shirk, equivocate, body-swervebeget VERB 1 Poverty begets debt. = cause, bring, produce, create, effect, lead to, occasion (formal), result in, generate, provoke, induce, bring about, give rise to, precipitate, incite, engender 2 He wanted to beget an heir. = father, breed, generate, sire, get, propagate, procreate (formal)beggar NOUN Now I am a beggar, having lost everything except life. = vagrant (old-fashioned), tramp (old-fashioned), bankrupt, bum (informal), derelict (old-fashioned), drifter, down-and-out, pauper (old-fashioned), hobo (chiefly U.S.), vagabond (old-fashioned), bag lady, dosser (Brit. slang), derro (Austral. slang), starveling (old-fashioned) ▸ VERB The statistics beggar belief. = defy, challenge, defeat, frustrate, foil, baffle, thwart, withstand, surpass, elude, repelbegin VERB 1 He stood up and began to walk around the room. = start, commence, proceed ◼ OPPOSITE: stop 2 The US wants to begin talks immediately. = commence, start, initiate, embark on, set about, instigate, inaugurate, institute, make a beginning, set on foot 3 He didn't know how to begin. = start talking, start, initiate, commence, begin business, get or start the ball rolling 4 It began as a local festival. = come into existence, start, appear, emerge, spring, be born, arise, dawn, be developed, be created, originate, commence, be invented, become available, crop up (informal), come into being 5 The fate line begins close to the wrist. = emerge, start, spring, stem, derive, issue, originate ◼ OPPOSITE: endbeginner NOUN = novice, student, pupil, convert, recruit, amateur, initiate, newcomer, starter, trainee, apprentice, cub, fledgling, learner, freshman, neophyte (formal), tyro, probationer, greenhorn (informal), novitiate, tenderfoot, proselyte ◼ OPPOSITE: expertbeginning NOUN 1 Think of this as a new beginning. = start, opening, break (informal), chance, source, opportunity, birth, origin, introduction, outset, starting point, onset, overture, initiation, inauguration, inception, commencement, opening move ◼ OPPOSITE: end 2 The question was raised at the beginning of this chapter. = outset, start, opening, birth, onset, prelude, preface, commencement, kickoff (informal) 3 His views come from his own humble beginnings. = origins, family, beginnings, stock, birth, roots, heritage, descent, pedigree, extraction, ancestry, lineage, parentage, stirpsbegrudge VERB 1 I certainly don't begrudge him the Nobel Prize. = resent, envy, grudge, be jealous of 2 She spends £2,000 a year on it and she doesn't begrudge a penny. = be bitter about, object to, be angry about, give reluctantly, bear a grudge about, be in a huff about, give stingily, have hard feelings aboutbeguile VERB 1 Her paintings beguiled the critics. = charm, please, attract, delight, occupy, cheer, fascinate, entertain, absorb, entrance, win over, amuse, divert, distract, enchant, captivate, solace, allure, bewitch, mesmerize, engross, enrapture, tickle the fancy of 2 He used his newspapers to beguile his readers. = fool, trick, take in, cheat, con (informal), mislead, impose on, deceive, dupe, gull (archaic), delude, bamboozle, hoodwink, take for a ride (informal), befool ◼ OPPOSITE: enlightenbeguiling ADJECTIVE = charming, interesting, pleasing, attractive, engaging, lovely, entertaining, pleasant, intriguing, diverting, delightful, irresistible, enchanting, seductive, captivating, enthralling, winning, eye-catching, alluring, bewitching, delectable, winsome, likable or likeablebehalf NOUN ● on behalf of something or someone or on something or someone's behalf 1 She made an emotional public appeal on her son's behalf. = as a representative of, representing, in the name of, as a spokesperson for 2 The honour recognizes work done on behalf of classical theatre. = for the benefit of, for the sake of, in support of, on the side of, in the interests of, on account of, for the good of, in defence of, to the advantage of, for the profit of

USAGE On behalf of is sometimes wrongly used as an alternative to on the part of. The distinction is that on behalf of someone means 'for someone's benefit' or 'representing someone', while on the part of someone can be roughly paraphrased as 'by someone'.

behave VERB 1 He'd behaved badly. = act, react, conduct yourself, acquit yourself, comport yourself 2 (often reflexive) You have to behave. = be well-behaved, be good, be polite, mind your manners, keep your nose clean, act correctly, act politely, conduct yourself properly ◼ OPPOSITE: misbehavebehaviour NOUN 1 He was asked to explain his extraordinary behaviour. = conduct, ways, actions, bearing, attitude, manner, manners, carriage, demeanour, deportment, mien (literary), comportment 2 This process modifies the cell's behaviour. = action, working, running, performance, operation, practice, conduct, functioningbehead VERB = decapitate, execute, guillotinebehest NOUN ● at someone's behest = at someone's command, by someone's order, at someone's demand, at someone's wish, by someone's decree, at someone's bidding, at someone's instruction, by someone's mandate, at someone's dictate, at someone's commandmentbehind PREPOSITION 1 They were parked behind the truck. = at the rear of, at the back of, at the heels of 2 I wandered along behind him. = after, following 3 He had the state's judicial power behind him. = supporting, for, backing, on the side of, in agreement with 4 I'd like to know who was behind this plot. = causing, responsible for, the cause of, initiating, at the bottom of, to blame for, instigating 5 The work is 22 weeks behind schedule. = later than, after ▸ ADVERB 1 They were grabbed from behind. = the back, the rear 2 The troopers followed behind. = after, next, following, afterwards, subsequently, in the wake (of) ◼ OPPOSITE: in advance of 3 The accounts are more than three months behind. = behind schedule, delayed, running late, behind time ◼ OPPOSITE: ahead 4 They were falling behind with their mortgage payments. = overdue, in debt, in arrears, behindhand ▸ NOUN jeans that actually flatter your behind = bottom (informal), seat, bum (Brit. slang), butt (informal), buns (slang), buttocks, rump, posterior, tail (informal), derrière (euphemistic), tush (U.S. slang), jacksy (Brit. slang)behold VERB = look at, see, view, eye, consider, study, watch, check, regard, survey, witness, clock (Brit. slang), examine, observe, perceive, gaze, scan, contemplate, check out (informal), inspect, discern, eyeball (slang), scrutinize, recce (slang), get a load of (informal), take a gander at (informal), take a dekko at (Brit. slang, old-fashioned), feast your eyes uponbeholden ADJECTIVE = indebted, bound, owing, grateful, obliged, in debt, obligated, under obligationbeige NOUN or ADJECTIVE = fawn, coffee, cream, sand, neutral, mushroom, tan, biscuit, camel, buff, cinnamon, khaki, oatmeal, ecru, café au lait (French)being NOUN 1 beings from outer space = individual, thing, body (informal), animal, creature, human being, beast, mortal, living thing 2 the complex process by which the novel is brought into being = life, living, reality, animation, actuality ◼ OPPOSITE: nonexistence 3 The music seemed to touch his very being. = soul, spirit, presence, substance, creature, essence, organism, entitybelated ADJECTIVE = late, delayed, overdue, late in the day, tardy, behind time, unpunctual, behindhandbelch VERB 1 He covered his mouth with his hand and belched discreetly. = burp, eructate, eruct 2 Tired old trucks belched black smoke. = emit, discharge, erupt, send out, throw out, vent, vomit, issue, give out, gush, eject, diffuse, emanate, exude, give off, exhale, cast out, disgorge, give vent to, send forth, spew forth, breathe forthbeleaguered ADJECTIVE 1 There have been seven attempts against the beleaguered government. = harassed, troubled, plagued, tormented, hassled (informal), aggravated (informal), badgered, persecuted, pestered, vexed, put upon 2 The rebels continue to push their way towards the beleaguered capital. = besieged, surrounded, blockaded, encompassed, beset, encircled, assailed, hemmed in, hedged in, environedbelie VERB 1 Her serious expression belies her good humour. = misrepresent, disguise, conceal, distort, misinterpret, falsify, gloss over 2 The facts of the situation belie his testimony. = disprove, deny, expose, discredit, contradict, refute, repudiate, negate, invalidate, rebut, give the lie to, make a nonsense of, gainsay (archaic, literary), prove false, blow out of the water (slang), controvert, confutebelief NOUN 1 a belief in personal liberty = trust, confidence, conviction, reliance ◼ OPPOSITE: disbelief 2 He refuses to compete on Sundays because of his religious beliefs. = faith, principles, doctrine, ideology, creed, dogma, tenet, credence, credo 3 It is my belief that a common ground can be found. = opinion, feeling, idea, view, theory, impression, assessment, notion, judgment, point of view, sentiment, persuasion, presumptionbelievable ADJECTIVE = credible, possible, likely, acceptable, reliable, authentic, probable, plausible, imaginable, trustworthy, creditable ◼ OPPOSITE: unbelievablebelieve VERB 1 I believe you have something of mine. = think, consider, judge, suppose, maintain, estimate, imagine, assume, gather, guess (informal), reckon, conclude, deem, speculate, presume, conjecture, postulate (formal), surmise 2 Don't believe what you read in the papers. = accept, hold, buy (slang), trust, credit, depend on, rely on, swallow (informal), count on, buy into (slang), have faith in, swear by, be certain of, be convinced of, place confidence in, presume true, take as gospel, take on (U.S.) ◼ OPPOSITE: disbelieve ● believe in something He believed in marital fidelity. = advocate, champion, approve of, swear bybeliever NOUN = follower, supporter, convert, disciple, protagonist, devotee, worshipper, apostle, adherent, zealot, upholder, proselyte ◼ OPPOSITE: scepticbelittle VERB = run down, dismiss, diminish, put down, underestimate, discredit, ridicule, scorn, rubbish (informal), degrade, minimize, downgrade, undervalue, knock (informal), deride, malign, detract from, denigrate, scoff at, disparage, decry, sneer at, underrate, deprecate, depreciate, defame, derogate ◼ OPPOSITE: praisebelle NOUN = beauty, looker (informal), lovely, good-looker, goddess, Venus, peach (informal), cracker (informal), stunner (informal), charmerbellicose ADJECTIVE = aggressive, offensive, hostile, destructive, defiant, provocative, belligerent, combative, antagonistic, pugnacious, hawkish, warlike, quarrelsome, militaristic, sabre-rattling, jingoistic, warmongeringbelligerence NOUN = aggressiveness, hostility, animosity, antagonism, destructiveness, pugnacity, combativeness, offensiveness, unfriendlinessbelligerent ADJECTIVE He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago. = aggressive, hostile, contentious, combative, unfriendly, antagonistic, pugnacious, argumentative, bellicose, quarrelsome, aggro (Austral. & N.Z.), aggers (Austral. slang), biffo (Austral. slang), litigious ◼ OPPOSITE: friendly ▸ NOUN The belligerents were due to settle their differences. = fighter, battler, militant, contender, contestant, combatant, antagonist, warring nation, disputantbellow VERB He bellowed the information into the telephone. = shout, call, cry (out), scream, roar, yell, howl, shriek, clamour, bawl, holler (informal) ▸ NOUN a bellow of tearful rage = shout, call, cry, scream, roar, yell, howl, shriek, bell, clamour, bawlbelly NOUN = stomach, insides (informal), gut, abdomen, tummy (informal), paunch, vitals, breadbasket (slang), potbelly, corporation (informal), puku (N.Z.)belong VERB = go with, fit into, be part of, relate to, attach to, be connected with, pertain to, have as a proper placebelonging NOUN = fellowship, relationship, association, loyalty, acceptance, attachment, inclusion, affinity, rapport, affiliation, kinshipbelongings PLURAL NOUN = possessions, goods, things, effects, property, stuff, gear, paraphernalia, personal property, accoutrements, chattels, goods and chattelsbeloved ADJECTIVE = dear, loved, valued, prized, dearest, sweet (archaic), admired, treasured, precious, darling, worshipped, adored, cherished, reveredbelow PREPOSITION 1 The boat dipped below the surface of the water. = under, underneath, lower than 2 Night temperatures can drop below 15 degrees Celsius. = less than, lower than 3 white-collar staff below chief officer level = subordinate to, subject to, inferior to, lesser than ▸ ADVERB 1 Spread out below was a huge crowd. = lower, down, under, beneath, underneath 2 Please write to me at the address below. = beneath, following, at the end, underneath, at the bottom, further onbelt NOUN 1 He wore a belt with a large brass buckle. = waistband, band, sash, girdle, girth, cummerbund, cincture 2 The turning disc is connected by a drive belt to an electric motor. = conveyor belt, band, loop, fan belt, drive belt 3 a belt of trees = zone, area, region, section, sector, district, stretch, strip, layer, patch, portion, tract ● below the belt Do you think it's a bit below the belt, what they're doing? = unfair, foul, crooked (informal), cowardly, sly, fraudulent, unjust, dishonest, deceptive, unscrupulous, devious, unethical, sneaky, furtive, deceitful, surreptitious, dishonourable, unsporting, unsportsmanlike, underhanded, not playing the game (informal)bemoan VERB = lament, regret, complain about, rue (literary), deplore, grieve for, weep for, bewail, cry over spilt milk, express sorrow about, moan overbemused ADJECTIVE = puzzled, stunned, confused, stumped, baffled, at sea, bewildered, muddled, preoccupied, dazed, perplexed, mystified, engrossed, clueless, stupefied, nonplussed, absent-minded, flummoxed, half-drunk, fuddledbench NOUN 1 We sat down on a park bench. = seat, stall, pew 2 the laboratory bench = worktable, stand, table, counter, slab, trestle table, workbench ● the bench It shows how seriously the bench viewed these offences. = court, judge, judges, magistrate, magistrates, tribunal, judiciary, courtroombenchmark NOUN = reference point, gauge, yardstick, measure, level, example, standard, model, reference, par, criterion, norm, touchstonebend VERB 1 Bend the bar into a horseshoe. = twist, turn, wind, lean, hook, bow, curve, arch, incline, arc, deflect, warp, buckle, coil, flex, stoop, veer, swerve, diverge, contort, inflect, incurvate 2 Congress has to bend to his will. = submit, yield, bow, surrender, give in, give way, cede, capitulate, resign yourself 3 He's very decisive. You cannot bend him. = force, direct, influence, shape, persuade, compel, mould, sway ▸ NOUN The crash occurred on a sharp bend. = curve, turn, corner, hook, twist, angle, bow, loop, arc, zigzag, camberbeneath PREPOSITION 1 She found pleasure in sitting beneath the trees. = under, below, underneath, lower than ◼ OPPOSITE: over 2 She decided he was beneath her. = inferior to, below 3 Many find themselves having to take jobs far beneath them. = unworthy of, unfitting for, unsuitable for, inappropriate for, unbefitting ▸ ADVERB On a shelf beneath he spotted a photo album. = underneath, below, in a lower place ◼ RELATED WORD: prefix sub-benefactor NOUN = supporter, friend, champion, defender, sponsor, angel (informal), patron, promoter, contributor, backer, helper, subsidizer, philanthropist, upholder, well-wisherbeneficial ADJECTIVE = favourable, useful, valuable, helpful, profitable, benign, wholesome, advantageous, expedient, salutary, healthful, serviceable, salubrious, gainful ◼ OPPOSITE: harmfulbeneficiary NOUN 1 The main beneficiaries of pension equality so far have been men. = recipient, receiver, payee, assignee, legatee 2 a sole beneficiary of a will = heir, inheritorbenefit NOUN 1 I'm a great believer in the benefits of this form of therapy. = good, use, help, profit, gain, favour, utility, boon, mileage (informal), avail ◼ OPPOSITE: harm 2 This could now work to his benefit. = advantage, interest, aid, gain, favour, assistance, betterment ▸ VERB 1 Both sides have benefited from the talks. = profit from, make the most of, gain from, do well out of, reap benefits from, turn to your advantage 2 a variety of government schemes benefiting children = help, serve, aid, profit, improve, advance, advantage, enhance, assist, avail ◼ OPPOSITE: harmbenevolence NOUN = kindness, understanding, charity, grace, sympathy, humanity, tolerance, goodness, goodwill, compassion, generosity, indulgence, decency, altruism, clemency, gentleness, philanthropy, magnanimity, fellow feeling, beneficence, kindliness, kind-heartedness, aroha (N.Z.) ◼ OPPOSITE: ill willbenevolent ADJECTIVE = kind, good, kindly, understanding, caring, liberal, generous, obliging, sympathetic, humanitarian, charitable, benign, humane, compassionate, gracious, indulgent, amiable, amicable, lenient, cordial, considerate, affable, congenial, altruistic, philanthropic, bountiful, beneficent, well-disposed, kind-hearted, warm-hearted, bounteous, tender-heartedbenighted ADJECTIVE = uncivilized, crude, primitive, backward, uncultivated, unenlightenedbenign ADJECTIVE 1 Critics of the scheme take a less benign view. = benevolent, kind, kindly, warm, liberal, friendly, generous, obliging, sympathetic, favourable, compassionate, gracious, amiable, genial, affable, complaisant ◼ OPPOSITE: unkind 2 It wasn't cancer, only a benign tumour. = harmless, innocent, superficial, innocuous, curable, inoffensive, not dangerous, remediable ◼ OPPOSITE: malignant 3 relatively benign economic conditions = favourable, good, encouraging, warm, moderate, beneficial, clement, advantageous, salutary, auspicious, propitious ◼ OPPOSITE: unfavourablebent ADJECTIVE 1 The trees were all bent and twisted from the wind. = misshapen, twisted, angled, bowed, curved, arched, crooked, distorted, warped, deformed, tortuous, disfigured, out of shape ◼ OPPOSITE: straight 2 a bent, frail, old man = stooped, bowed, arched, hunched ▸ NOUN a bent for natural history = inclination, ability, taste, facility, talent, leaning, tendency, preference, faculty, forte, flair, knack, penchant, bag (slang), propensity, aptitude, predisposition, predilection, proclivity (formal), turn of mind ● bent on They are bent on revenge. = intent on, set on, fixed on, predisposed to, resolved on, insistent onbequeath VERB 1 He bequeathed all his silver to his children. = leave, will, give, grant, commit, transmit, hand down, endow, bestow, entrust, leave to by will 2 She bequeaths her successor an economy that is doing quite well. = give, offer, accord, grant, afford, contribute, yield, lend, pass on, transmit, confer, bestow, impartbequest NOUN = legacy, gift, settlement, heritage, trust, endowment, estate, inheritance, dower, bestowal, koha (N.Z.)berate VERB = scold, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, blast, carpet (informal), put down, criticize, slate (informal, chiefly Brit.), censure, castigate, revile, chide, harangue, tear into (informal), tell off (informal), rail at, read the riot act to, reprove, upbraid, slap on the wrist, lambast(e), bawl out (informal), excoriate, rap over the knuckles, chew out (U.S. & Canad. informal), tear (someone) off a strip (Brit. informal), give a rocket (Brit. & N.Z. informal), vituperate ◼ OPPOSITE: praisebereavement NOUN = loss, death, misfortune, deprivation, affliction, tribulationbereft ADJECTIVE ● bereft of = deprived of, without, minus, lacking in, devoid of, cut off from, parted from, sans (archaic), robbed of, empty of, denuded ofberg NOUN (S. African) = mountain, peak, mount, height, ben (Scot.), horn, ridge, fell (Brit.), alp, pinnacle, elevation, eminenceberserk ADJECTIVE = crazy, wild, mad (informal), frantic, ape (slang), barro (Austral. slang), off the air (Austral. slang), porangi (N.Z.)berth NOUN 1 Golding booked a berth on the first boat he could. = bunk, bed, cot (Nautical), hammock, billet 2 A ship has applied to leave its berth. = anchorage, haven, slip, port, harbour, dock, pier, wharf, quay ▸ VERB The ship berthed in New York. = anchor, land, dock, moor, tie up, drop anchorbeseech VERB = beg, ask, petition, call upon, plead with, solicit, implore, entreat, importune (formal), adjure, supplicatebeset VERB = plague, trouble, embarrass, torture, haunt, torment, harass, afflict, badger, perplex, pester, vex, entangle, bedevilbesetting ADJECTIVE = chronic, persistent, long-standing, prevalent, habitual, ingrained, deep-seated, incurable, deep-rooted, inveterate, incorrigible, ineradicablebeside PREPOSITION On the table beside an empty plate was a pile of books. = next to, near, close to, neighbouring, alongside, overlooking, next door to, adjacent to, at the side of, abreast of, cheek by jowl with ● beside yourself He was beside himself with anxiety. = distraught, desperate, mad, distressed, frantic, frenzied, hysterical, unbalanced, uncontrolled, deranged, berserk, delirious, unhinged, very anxious, overwrought, apoplectic, at the end of your tether

USAGE People occasionally confuse beside and besides. Besides is used for mentioning something that adds to what you have already said, for example: I didn't feel like going and besides, I had nothing to wear. Beside usually means next to or at the side of something or someone, for example: he was standing beside me (not besides me).

besides PREPOSITION I asked him where he had been in South America besides Peru. = apart from, barring, excepting, other than, excluding, as well (as), in addition to, over and above ▸ ADVERB It doesn't fit you, and besides it's dreadful! = also, too, further, otherwise, in addition, as well, moreover, furthermore, what's more, into the bargainbesiege VERB 1 She was besieged by the press and the public. = harass, worry, trouble, harry, bother, disturb, plague, hound, hassle (informal), badger, pester, importune (formal), bend someone's ear (informal), give someone grief (Brit. & S. African), beleaguer 2 The main part of the army moved to besiege the town. = surround, confine, enclose, blockade, encompass, beset, encircle, close in on, hem in, shut in, lay siege to, hedge in, environ, beleaguer, invest (rare)besotted ADJECTIVE = infatuated, charmed, captivated, beguiled, doting, smitten, bewitched, bowled over (informal), spellbound, enamoured, hypnotized, swept off your feetbest ADJECTIVE 1 He was the best player in the world for most of the 1950s. = finest, leading, chief, supreme, principal, first, foremost, superlative, pre-eminent, unsurpassed, most accomplished, most skilful, most excellent 2 the best way to end the long-running war = most fitting, right, most desirable, most apt, most advantageous, most correct ▸ NOUN You must do your best to protect yourselves. = utmost, most, greatest, hardest, highest endeavour ▸ ADVERB The thing I liked best about the show was the music. = most highly, most fully, most deeply ● the best We only offer the best to our clients. = the finest, the pick, the choice, the flower, the cream, the elite, the crème de la crèmebestow VERB = present, give, accord, award, grant, commit, hand out, lavish, confer, endow, entrust, impart, allot, honour with, apportion ◼ OPPOSITE: obtainbestseller NOUN = success, hit (informal), winner, smash (informal), belter (slang), sensation, blockbuster (informal), wow (slang), market leader, smash hit (informal), chart-topper (informal), runaway success, number one ◼ OPPOSITE: failurebestselling ADJECTIVE = successful, top, hit (informal), smash (informal), flourishing, lucrative, smash-hit (informal), chart-topping (informal), moneymaking, number one, highly successfulbet VERB I bet on a horse called Premonition. = gamble, chance, stake, venture, hazard, speculate, punt (chiefly Brit.), wager, put money, risk money, pledge money, put your shirt on ▸ NOUN He made a 30 mile trip to the casino to place a bet. = gamble, risk, stake, venture, pledge, speculation, hazard, flutter (informal), ante, punt (chiefly Brit.), wager, long shotbetray VERB 1 He might be seen as having betrayed his mother. = be disloyal to, break with, grass on (Brit. slang), dob in (Austral. slang), double-cross (informal), stab in the back, be unfaithful to, sell down the river (informal), grass up (slang), shop (slang, chiefly Brit.), put the finger on (informal), inform on or against 2 She studied his face, but it betrayed nothing. = give away, tell, show, reveal, expose, disclose, uncover, manifest, divulge, blurt out, unmask, lay bare, tell on, let slip, evince (formal)betrayal NOUN = disloyalty, sell-out (informal), deception, treason, treachery, trickery, duplicity, double-cross (informal), double-dealing, breach of trust, perfidy (literary), unfaithfulness, falseness, inconstancy ◼ OPPOSITE: loyaltybetter ADVERB 1 I like your interpretation better than the one I was taught. = to a greater degree, more completely, more thoroughly 2 If we had played better, we might have won. = in a more excellent manner, more effectively, more attractively, more advantageously, more competently, in a superior way ◼ OPPOSITE: worse ▸ ADJECTIVE 1 He is better now. = well, stronger, improving, progressing, recovering, healthier, cured, mending, fitter, fully recovered, on the mend (informal), more healthy, less ill ◼ OPPOSITE: worse 2 I've been able to have a better car than I otherwise could have. = superior, finer, worthier, higher-quality, surpassing, preferable, more appropriate, more useful, more valuable, more suitable, more desirable, streets ahead, more fitting, more expert ◼ OPPOSITE: inferior ▸ VERB 1 He bettered the old record of 4 minutes 24. = beat, top, exceed, excel, surpass, outstrip, outdo, improve on or upon, cap (informal) 2 Our parents came here with the hope of bettering themselves. = improve, forward, reform, advance, promote, correct, amend, mend, rectify, augment, ameliorate, meliorate ● get the better of someone He usually gets the better of them. = defeat, beat, surpass, triumph over, outdo, trounce, outwit, best, subjugate, prevail over, outsmart, get the upper hand, score off, run rings around (informal), wipe the floor with (informal), make mincemeat of (informal), blow out of the water (slang)betterment NOUN = improvement, gain, advancement, enhancement, edification, amelioration, meliorationbetween PREPOSITION = amidst, among, mid, in the middle of, betwixt ◼ RELATED WORD: prefix inter-

USAGE After distribute and words with a similar meaning, among should be used rather than between: share out the sweets among the children (not between the children, unless there are only two children).

beverage NOUN = drink, liquid, liquor, refreshment, draught, bevvy (dialect), libation (facetious), thirst quencher, potable, potationbeverage room NOUN (Canad.) = tavern, inn, bar, pub (informal, chiefly Brit.), public house, watering hole (facetious, slang), boozer (Brit. & Austral. & N.Z. informal), beer parlour (Canad.), hostelrybevy NOUN = group, company, set, party, band, crowd, troop, pack, collection, gathering, gang, bunch (informal), cluster, congregation, clump, troupe, posse (slang), clique, coterie, assemblagebeware VERB 1 Beware, this recipe is not for slimmers. = be careful, look out, watch out, be wary, be cautious, take heed, guard against something 2 We should beware declaring victory too soon. = avoid, mind, shun, refrain from, steer clear of, guard againstbewilder VERB = confound, surprise, stun, confuse, puzzle, baffle, mix up, daze, perplex, mystify, stupefy, befuddle, flummox, bemuse, dumbfound, nonplus, flabbergast (informal)bewildered ADJECTIVE = confused, surprised, stunned, puzzled, uncertain, startled, baffled, at sea, awed, muddled, dizzy, dazed, perplexed, disconcerted, at a loss, mystified, taken aback, speechless, giddy, disorientated, bamboozled (informal), nonplussed, flummoxed, at sixes and sevens, thrown off balance, discombobulated (informal)bewildering ADJECTIVE = confusing, surprising, amazing, stunning, puzzling, astonishing, staggering, eye-popping (informal), baffling, astounding, perplexing, mystifying, stupefyingbewitch VERB = enchant, attract, charm, fascinate, absorb, entrance, enthral, captivate, beguile, allure, ravish, mesmerize, hypnotize, cast a spell on, enrapture, spellbind ◼ OPPOSITE: repulsebewitched ADJECTIVE = enchanted, charmed, transformed, fascinated, entranced, possessed, captivated, enthralled, beguiled, ravished, spellbound, mesmerized, enamoured, hypnotized, enraptured, under a spellbeyond PREPOSITION 1 They heard footsteps in the main room, beyond a door. = on the other side of, outwith (Scot.) 2 Few jockeys continue riding beyond the age of forty. = after, over, past, above 3 His interests extended beyond the fine arts. = past, outwith (Scot.) 4 I knew nothing beyond a few random facts. = except for, but, save, apart from, other than, excluding, besides, aside from 5 What he had done was beyond my comprehension. = exceeding, surpassing, superior to, out of reach of 6 The situation was beyond her control. = outside, over, above, outwith (Scot.)