Showing results for "beginning"

• present participle of begin.

beginning

American  

[bih-gin-ing] / bɪˈgɪn ɪŋ /

noun

• beginnings
  plural

1. an act or circumstance of entering upon an action or state.

   the beginning of hostilities.

   Synonyms:

   inception, inauguration, initiation

   Antonyms:

   ending

2. the point of time or space at which anything begins.

   the beginning of the Christian era; the beginning of the route.

   Synonyms:

   emergence, onset, outset, commencement, start

   Antonyms:

   end

3. the first part.

   the beginning of the book; the beginning of the month.

4. Often beginnings. the initial stage or part of anything.

   the beginnings of science.

5. origin; source; first cause.

   A misunderstanding about the rent was the beginning of their quarrel.

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adjective

1. just formed.

   a beginning company.

2. first; opening.

   the beginning chapters of a book.

3. basic or introductory.

   beginning Spanish.

4. learning the fundamentals.

   a beginning swimmer.

beginning British  

/ bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ /

noun

1. a start; commencement

2. (often plural) a first or early part or stage

3. the place where or time when something starts

4. an origin; source

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Usage

Spelling tips for beginning The word beginning is hard to spell for two reasons. It doesn't simply combine the base word (begin) with the suffix -ing, as is done in other easy-to-remember words that end in -ing, like starting and talking. Also, it can be tempting to use a double g (beggining) instead of a double n. How to spell beginning: To spell beginning, you take the base word begin and add an n at the end. Then, add the suffix -ing. Why do you need an extra n? Because you should begin right Now.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• beginnings
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of beginning

First recorded in 1175–1225, beginning is from the Middle English word beginnung, begonning. See begin, -ing ¹

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Explanation

The beginning is the first part or section of something, or the place where it starts. You watch the opening credits at the beginning of a movie. "In the beginning," says the beginning of the Bible, "God created the heavens and the earth." Beginning can mean the act of starting something (the day after Thanksgiving is the beginning of the Christmas shopping season), or it can mean the time when something will start (Beginning at noon, all Christmas ornaments will go on sale.) Beginning can also refer to the origin of something, its root or source, as the beginning of the Mississippi River is Lake Itasca, Minnesota.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

beginning beginnings

My father worked as a salesman for over 35 years at the original Black & Company Hardware Store on N. Water Street in Decatur, Ill., beginning in 1944.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

"Stephen Miller's been with me since the beginning," Trump said in comments to reporters after announcing the move on his Truth Social website.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Nunez has said that since the beginning of the high-school protest movement police had acted with "the greatest proportionality".

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

I was ridiculously lucky to get in at the beginning of all that, and to this day, the first few years of Salon remain the most fun I have ever had.

From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026

We get hot dogs and lemonades and shuffle into our row side-ways, just as the game is beginning, squeezing past the people who are already in their seats.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

The observations indicate that both hot and cold TNOs have maintained color patterns linked to their formation, with surprisingly little apparent change since the solar system's beginnings.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

Both men see Luna as a role model for making so much of his humble beginnings, and also because of what he’s done in office.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

This journey formed the humble beginnings of the popular ale.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

Their performance told the story of the group's journey, from its beginnings 27 years ago to where they are now with 200 members.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

He has color in his face now, and the beginnings of red whiskers, like his hair.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

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Related Words

• birth
• creation
• dawn
• inauguration
• inception
• introduction
• onset
• opening
• outset
• starting point
• top

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