begin
verb (used without object)
to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of some action; commence; start.
begin
1 American
[bih-gin]
/ bɪˈgɪn /
verb (used without object)
-
begins,
present (3rd person singular)
-
began,
past
-
begun,
past participle
-
beginning
present participle
-
to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of some action; commence; start.
The story begins with their marriage.
- Antonyms:
- end
-
to come into existence; arise; originate.
The custom began during the Civil War.
verb (used with object)
-
begins,
present (3rd person singular)
-
began,
past
-
begun,
past participle
-
beginning
present participle
-
to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of (some action).
Begin the job tomorrow.
-
to originate; be the originator of.
civic leaders who began the reform movement.
- Synonyms:
- initiate, inaugurate, institute
-
to succeed to the slightest extent in (followed by an infinitive).
The money won't even begin to cover expenses.
Begin
2
American
[bay-gin]
/ ˈbeɪ gɪn /
noun
begin
1
British
/ bɪˈɡɪn /
verb
-
to start or cause to start (something or to do something)
-
to bring or come into being for the first time; arise or originate
-
to start to say or speak
-
(used with a negative) to have the least capacity (to do something)
he couldn't begin to compete with her
-
in the first place
Begin
2
British
/ ˈbɛɡɪn /
noun
begin
Idioms
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
beginsimple
-
beginssimple
-
have begunperfect
-
has begunperfect
-
am beginningprogressive
-
are beginningprogressive
-
is beginningprogressive
-
have been beginningperfect progressive
-
has been beginningperfect progressive
Past
-
begansimple
-
had begunperfect
-
was beginningprogressive
-
were beginningprogressive
-
had been beginningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of begin
First recorded before 1000; Middle English beginnen, Old English beginnan, equivalent to be- be- + -ginnan “to begin,” perhaps originally “to open,” akin to yawn
Explanation
To begin is to start. When it begins to snow, every flake looks pretty, drifting gently down from the dark sky. When you begin something, you go ahead with its first part or stage — you can begin the day with a good attitude, or begin a very long book over and over again, always falling asleep before you get to chapter two. You also might begin a journey by lacing up your hiking boots. Things also begin when they have a specific element as a first part, as when a word begins with the letter T.
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.
See Examples For:
The sooner you can begin, the better — and think months or years before a move, not weeks or days.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
In obesity, adipocytes can expand until they become chronically stressed and begin releasing inflammatory substances into the bloodstream.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
“The suffering did not begin nor end that day,” he wrote Wednesday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
The trial for both Maduro and Flores is set to begin in June 2027.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
But how could the twins have gotten their hands on the book to begin with?
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Begin with Magic Johnson and Billie Jean King, part of the group that owns the Dodgers and Sparks.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
Appeared in the April 10, 2026, print edition as 'Israel To Begin Direct Talks With Lebanon'.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026
The latest example is a report from Jefferies titled “From Asimov to the Assembly Line: Humanoid Robots Begin to Clock In.”
From Barron's ● Mar. 25, 2026
Begin with heat and fat, then add your aromatics, giving them time to soften and bloom.
From Salon ● Feb. 8, 2026
Begin by selecting one culture area in which you are interested.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Future studies will follow animals through longer training periods to see how these early changes develop once weight loss begins.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
But be patient when a new service begins because things can change.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
It will cost $2,599 and begins shipping on October 16.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
Of course, “The Eric André Show,” a parody of late-night talk series, always begins with its eponymous host wrecking his set in the most chaotic manner.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
She takes off her glasses and begins cleaning them with the tail of her blouse.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
Saint-Denis, a suburb of 150,000 people, was among the first places where students began to protest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Both traveled from Australia to the port city of Ensenada for the trial, which began on September 8.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
After receiving the onboard alerts from EP, Li quickly began the initial analysis.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
Financed by Walter Chrysler, the motor magnate, the skyscraper's construction began in 1928 and was completed two years later.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
After the ad ended, the video from Bead Clan Kitchen began to play.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
After seven strength training sessions, part of this fat breakdown system had begun functioning again.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
Even California’s governor has begun asking whether another recycling rule is worth the cost.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
“Our review of Common Sense Media’s methodology shows that the bulk of their testing may have begun and concluded before activation of parental controls was complete, making their findings inaccurate.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Provence, who previously have been represented by Wales internationals George North and Tomas Francis, have begun their season and search for promotion to the Top 14 well, winning their first five league games.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Clare had just begun to sink into its embrace, grateful for a place to rest his weary mind, when he was jolted into reality by a knock.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Announcing the beginning of the review earlier this week, the Scottish government said it would look at inequalities such as the higher rates of maternal death among Black and Asian women.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Their complex three-dimensional structures provide habitat for many other forms of deep-sea life, making them important centers of biodiversity in environments that scientists are only beginning to understand.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
But the accent is so hard to hear in the beginning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
"The prosecutor is bringing a case against him at court now. It is the beginning of the extradition hearing process," Prayuth Pecharakun, spokesman for Thailand's attorney general, told AFP on Thursday.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
"Sancho, Sancho, you're beginning to sound like your master. Of course we understand. That's why we want both of you to go back home. There are wrongs to right at home, too," the priest said.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
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.
