1. 3 л. ед. прош. вр. см. быть
2. частица разг.
nearly; ( вот-вот ) on the point of (+ ger. )
он было стал засыпать — he had nearly fallen asleep, he was on the point of falling asleep, he was just going to fall asleep
он было вовсе не хотел приезжать — he was on the point of not coming at all; he very nearly didn't come at all
чуть было не — (very) nearly; on the point of
он чуть было не забыл — he very nearly forgot
его чуть было не убило — he was nearly killed
он чуть было не ушёл — he was just about to leave, he was on the point of going