Words Ending in BE: Bribe, Describe, and Everything Between
The -BE ending covers a surprisingly broad range of English words. You've got the short ones that everyone knows — BABE, CUBE, ROBE, TUBE, TRIBE — and then the longer constructions built on Latin roots: DESCRIBE, PRESCRIBE, SUBSCRIBE, INSCRIBE. The -SCRIBE family alone accounts for a good chunk of this list. Then there's a whole set of scientific and specialty terms: AEROBE (an organism needing oxygen), MICROBE, and ASTILBE (a garden plant with feathery flowers).
One pattern worth memorizing for word games: many -BE words can be extended with -D or -R. BRIBE becomes BRIBED or BRIBER. PROBE becomes PROBED or PROBER. This makes them flexible on the board — you can hook onto existing words or set up future plays. In crosswords, ADOBE shows up constantly ("mud brick" or "Southwest building material"), and GLOBE is another frequent answer. A less obvious strategy: words like WARDROBE and BATHROBE are compound-ish words that solvers sometimes miss because they're thinking too literally about the clue. If you enjoy exploring ending patterns, words ending in ING offer similar verb-extension possibilities, and words starting with RE connect well since ROBE, REBUKE, and REABSORBE all cross these categories. Don't overlook words ending in K for neighboring consonant endings in your grid.
FAQ
What -BE words score highest in Scrabble?
CIRCUMSCRIBE would be a dream play at 23+ points base, but it needs 12 tiles. More realistically, DESCRIBE (15 points), JIBE (13 points with the J), and IMBIBE (14 points) are strong. ADOBE at 8 points is common and easy to place. For other high-value endings, look at words ending in X.
Are there any two-letter words ending in BE?
Yes — BE itself is a valid two-letter word, one of the most fundamental in English and worth 4 points in Scrabble. It's extremely useful for parallel plays where you need to hook a B onto an existing word. Pair it with knowledge of words starting with Y for cross-plays near the board edges.
Why do so many -BE words relate to writing?
The Latin root SCRIBERE means "to write," and English borrowed it wholesale. SCRIBE, DESCRIBE, INSCRIBE, PRESCRIBE, SUBSCRIBE, TRANSCRIBE — they all trace back to this root. The -BE ending preserves the original Latin conjugation. For more Latin-rooted patterns, check words ending in TION.