Is?

1. What "is" means in modern dictionaries

Major reference works converge: Merriam‑Webster defines "is" as the present‑tense third‑person singular form of "be" ^[1], Collins labels it similarly as the third‑person singular of the present tense of be ^[2], and Dictionary.com echoes that it is the third‑person singular present indicative of be ^[3]; Cambridge likewise lists "is" as the he/she/it form of be and provides standard usage examples ^[4]. These dictionary entries present a consistent lexical definition suitable for most grammar and usage questions.

2. How grammarians explain its grammatical role

Usage guides and grammar explainers treat "is" not as an action verb but as a linking verb that connects a subject to a noun or adjective describing its state ^[7]. Grammarly explicitly calls "is" a linking verb and also notes it can act as an auxiliary that pairs with a main verb to form verb phrases ^[7]. English Language & Usage commentary frames "is" as a tense form of the main verb be, reinforcing that understanding "be" is necessary to understand "is" ^[5]. In short, its job is to assert existence, identity, or state rather than to denote a discrete physical action.

3. Historical and dialectal perspectives

Historical dictionaries and etymological notes show "is" as an inherited element from Old English and cognate Indo‑European forms—Merriam‑Webster and older Webster entries link it to Old High German and Latin est/esse roots ^{[1] [6]}. Dialectal and contracted forms appear in everyday speech and older printed forms (e.g., he's, there's), and historical glosses emphasize the verb's variant spellings and pronunciations over time ^[6]. These sources indicate that while the core definition is stable, surface forms and uses have evolved.

4. Areas of ambiguity and contested implications

While dictionaries agree on form and primary function, interpretive debates arise when "is" is used in philosophical or logical claims—where "is" may signal identity, existence, or predicate attribution—and grammatical descriptions cannot fully capture those semantic roles; the provided sources define the word but do not settle philosophical disputes about existence or identity ^[8]. Usage guides focus on syntactic role, historical dictionaries on lineage, and community Q&A highlights that cross‑linguistic comparisons sometimes map "is" to verbs meaning "have" in other languages, revealing conceptual complexity beyond dictionary entries ^[5].

5. How reporting and source choices can nudge the reader

The consulted sources are dictionaries and usage guides that aim for descriptive clarity; their implicit agenda is lexical stability and teachability, not theoretical analysis ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [7]}. Community forums and older religious dictionaries bring interpretive color but can reflect historical prescriptivism or anecdotal usage patterns ^{[6] [5]}. Where deeper semantic or philosophical meaning is sought, these references are necessary but not sufficient; the available reporting does not attempt to adjudicate metaphysical claims about "being."

6. Bottom line — the direct answer to "Is?"

Yes: in standard English usage "is" is the third‑person singular present tense form of the verb "be," functioning primarily as a linking verb and sometimes as an auxiliary; this is the consensus across dictionaries, grammar resources, and usage commentary cited here ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [7] [5]}. The sources define and exemplify that grammatical role but do not—and in the materials provided cannot—resolve broader philosophical questions about what it means to "be" ^[8].