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began

American  
[bih-gan] / bɪˈgæn /

verb

  1. the simple past tense of begin.

began British  
/ bɪˈɡæn /

verb

  1. the past tense of begin

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That way, McIlroy said, it felt second nature to Nicklaus when the event actually began.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

This shift began after 2010 and highlights the growing urgency for stronger global efforts to protect forests.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

The “Heartstopper” universe began as a small web comic that gained traction on Tumblr nearly a decade ago.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

It began as a way to tell a better story.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

On Clare’s journey out of the dump, the scent of bonfires began to snake through the trees.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.