noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of beginner
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at begin, -er 1
Explanation
A beginner is someone who's brand new at something. In swimming lessons, a beginner practices putting her face in the water and blowing bubbles. If you're a beginner, you're a novice or an amateur — in other words, you're still learning. When you're learning to drive, you're a beginner and probably need the help of an instructor while you drive carefully around your neighborhood. A beginner at speaking French might be able to say a few phrases and know some basic vocabulary words. The earliest meaning of beginner, from the 14th century, was "founder," or "person who establishes an institution."
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:
Mehr Anand, a 21-year-old rising senior at Northeastern University in Boston, used to be annoyed that professors prohibited him from using AI in his beginner classes.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026
He stepped down as co-CEO in 2020 and, in 2024, decided to become a beginner again.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
Our Sunday folk session has been going for many years and is open to everyone - whether you're a beginner player or an international rock star.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
“It took patience and perseverance being a beginner again.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026
It’s the apartment manager with the saggy face and the tattoos that look like they were drawn by a beginner.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
“The democratization of investing, the access to information on investing for beginners or investing for people who don’t have a lot of capital” is shifting how young people are pursuing financial independence, Jain told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
Featuring an intuitive “one-click” interface consistent across all devices, it is ideal for both beginners and frequent travelers.
From Salon ● Mar. 30, 2026
Their experience ranged from beginners to specialists with up to 40 years in practice.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026
"That's a chance for beginners like me who can use AI to just make a film and to announce to the world that I have the ability to be a director," he told AFP.
From Barron's ● Mar. 10, 2026
It is included here because it looks like one, which can cause confusion for beginners.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
