begin

¹

[bih-gin]

verb (used without object)

began, begun, beginning. 

1. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of some action; commence; start.

   The story begins with their marriage.

   Antonyms: end

2. to come into existence; arise; originate.

   The custom began during the Civil War.

verb (used with object)

began, begun, beginning. 

1. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of (some action).

   Begin the job tomorrow.

2. to originate; be the originator of.

   civic leaders who began the reform movement.

   Synonyms: initiate, inaugurate, institute

3. to succeed to the slightest extent in (followed by an infinitive).

   The money won't even begin to cover expenses.

Begin

²

[bey-gin]

noun

1. Menachem 1913–92, Israeli political leader, born in Poland: prime minister 1977–83; Nobel Peace Prize 1978.

begin

¹

/ bɪˈɡɪn /

verb

1. to start or cause to start (something or to do something)

2. to bring or come into being for the first time; arise or originate

3. to start to say or speak

4. (used with a negative) to have the least capacity (to do something)

   he couldn't begin to compete with her

5. in the first place

Begin

²

/ ˈbɛɡɪn /

noun

1. Menachem (məˈnɑːkɪm). 1913–92, Israeli statesman, born in Poland. In Palestine after 1942, he became a leader of the militant Zionists; prime minister of Israel (1977–83); Nobel peace prize jointly with Sadat 1978. In 1979 he concluded the Camp David treaty with Anwar Sadat of Egypt

Word History and Origins

Origin of begin¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English beginnen, Old English beginnan, equivalent to be- be- + -ginnan “to begin,” perhaps originally “to open,” akin to yawn

Word History and Origins

Origin of begin¹

Old English beginnan ; related to Old High German biginnan , Gothic duginnan

Idioms and Phrases

• (begin to) see the light
• charity begins at home
• to start (begin) with

Synonym Study

Begin, commence, initiate, start (when followed by noun or gerund) refer to setting into motion or progress something that continues for some time. Begin is the common term: to begin knitting a sweater. Commence is a more formal word, often suggesting a more prolonged or elaborate beginning: to commence proceedings in court. Initiate implies an active and often ingenious first act in a new field: to initiate a new procedure. Start means to make a first move or to set out on a course of action: to start paving a street.

Example Sentences

Ministers began the process of making formal "bids" for laws they want included about a month ago.

Read more on BBC

At least 75 Gazan students have arrived in the UK since the government began supporting evacuations for those with fully-funded scholarships last month, including a third group of 17 students who arrived on Monday.

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The hurricane began moving north east towards The Bahamas on Wednesday.

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Salonen had capped Disney’s opening night gala with a “Rite” so visceral that it felt like a new beginning.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It is wrong to begin such a reduction in the face of Russian intransigence”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• commence 
• create 
• do 
• establish 
• found 
• go ahead 
• go into 
• inaugurate 
• initiate 
• introduce 
• launch 
• lead 
• make 
• open 
• prepare 
• produce 
• set up 
• start 
• undertake