Been is the past participle of the verb be. It is used with helping verbs like 'has', 'have', or 'had'. We use it to talk about the past or experiences.
She has been happy today.
I have been at school.
Been is used to say someone went somewhere and came back or was there before. It shows past experience or location.
They have been to the park.
Have you been at home?
In very informal use, 'been' can mean a person’s old home or identity place. This use is rare and often poetic or idiomatic.
This town is my been, where I grew up.
He returned to his been after many years.
'Been' is often used in the idiom 'been there, done that' to show someone has already experienced or done something, often with a sense of disinterest.
I have been there, done that already.
He said he had been there, done that.
In some dialects, 'been' is used to show that an action started in the past and still happens now. It emphasizes how long something has lasted.
He been working here for years.
She been known him since childhood.
In spoken English, people sometimes drop helping verbs and just say 'been' to mean 'have been' or 'has been'. This happens often in questions or casual talk.
You been here before?
He been to London twice.
