begin

¹

[ bih-gin ]

verb (used without object)

, be·gan [bih-, gan], be·gun [bih-, guhn], be·gin·ning [bih-, gin, -ing].

1. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of some action; commence; start:

   The story begins with their marriage.

   Antonyms: end

2. to come into existence; arise; originate:

   The custom began during the Civil War.

verb (used with object)

, be·gan, be·gun, be·gin·ning.

1. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of (some action):

   Begin the job tomorrow.

2. to originate; be the originator of:

   civic leaders who began the reform movement.

   Synonyms: initiate, inaugurate, institute

3. to succeed to the slightest extent in (followed by an infinitive):

   The money won't even begin to cover expenses.

Begin

²

[ bey-gin ]

noun

1. Me·na·chem [m, uh, -, nah, -, kh, uh, m], 1913–92, Israeli political leader, born in Poland: prime minister 1977–83; Nobel Peace Prize 1978.

Begin

¹

/ ˈbɛɡɪn /

noun

1. BeginMenachem19131992MIsraeliPolishPOLITICS: statesmanPOLITICS: prime minister Menachem (məˈnɑːkɪm). 1913–92, Israeli statesman, born in Poland. In Palestine after 1942, he became a leader of the militant Zionists; prime minister of Israel (1977–83); Nobel peace prize jointly with Sadat 1978. In 1979 he concluded the Camp David treaty with Anwar Sadat of Egypt

begin

²

/ bɪˈɡɪn /

verb

1. to start or cause to start (something or to do something)
2. to bring or come into being for the first time; arise or originate
3. to start to say or speak
4. used with a negative to have the least capacity (to do something)

   he couldn't begin to compete with her

5. to begin with
   in the first place

Word History and Origins

Origin of begin¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English beginnen, Old English beginnan, equivalent to be- be- + -ginnan “to begin,” perhaps originally “to open,” akin to yawn

Word History and Origins

Origin of begin¹

Old English beginnan ; related to Old High German biginnan , Gothic duginnan

Idioms and Phrases

• charity begins at home
• (begin to) see the light
• to start (begin) with

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

In this state, these cells that line the tiny arteries in the kidney begin to grow too large.

From Science Daily

Involvement in the Jan. 8 attacks was far from the only accusation leveled against Bolsonaro, even before the investigation began into the alleged military coup attempt.

From Salon

By the beginning of the Cambrian explosion of multicellular organisms about 540 million years ago, the ancestors of today’s ecdysozoans were already alive and varied in form and behavior, suggesting they arose even earlier.

From Science Magazine

As the work developed, some parts of the map became full of blue dots—areas they began to refer to as blue zones.

From Science Magazine

Appointed SEC chair in 2021, Mr Gensler's term is technically supposed to run until 2026, but it is normal for agency leaders to depart their positions when a new administration begins.

From BBC

Related Words

• commence
• create
• do
• establish
• found
• go ahead
• go into
• inaugurate
• initiate
• introduce
• launch
• lead
• make
• open
• prepare
• produce
• set up
• start
• undertake