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

Blue Owl offloaded $1.4 billion in loan assets at the beginning of the year, further worrying some investors and driving down its stock price.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Still, the recent uptick in oil flows could be just the beginning of the normalization.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

He also thanked those who have sent him messages of support and added: "This is only the beginning of my new journey."

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

He landed on the IL the next day and returned at the beginning of September in a pinch-hitting role.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

“I haven’t done—Luc, we should go,” I said, and now my voice was panicky, now it was the beginning of a beg.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

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

Those bubbles could expand away from one another while new regions undergo their own Big Bang-like beginnings.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026

We speed through his working-class beginnings and his sometimes-awkward experiences as a teacher, choirmaster, chamber musician and performer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

Every year on Mexican Independence Day, the paper celebrates its humble beginnings when Lozano Sr. launched the paper from a modest office in downtown Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

The glass has been removed on account of the heat, and although it is still powerful hot out, the beginnings of a breeze makes it’s lazy way through the compartment, providing a bit of relief.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

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Related Words

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

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