begin
verb (used without object)
to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of some action; commence; start.
were beginning
-
past progressiveof begin.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The Lakers were beginning a grueling five-game, seven-day stretch, but Vanderbilt was on the practice court in a full sweat at full speed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
And my assumption is that part of the reason you got into this race is that you were beginning to see signs that that was not going to hold.
From Slate ● Sep. 28, 2026
This places Praearcturus at an especially important stage in Earth's history, when animals were beginning to explore habitats beyond the oceans.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026
Tracy Woo, an analyst with Forrester, said Microsoft was a tech company showing that its massive AI investments were "beginning to deliver returns."
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
Already, the other members of the congregation were beginning to disperse.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
