Begin — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /bi-ˈgin/ be·gin

Meaning & Definition of Begin

Begin (verb)

  1. to do the first part of an action, go into the first part of a process, start
  2. to come into existence, arise
  3. to have a starting point

Begin (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

    "she began walking to work for exercise"

    similar: commence, embark (on or upon), enter (into or upon), fall (to), get off, kick off, launch, lead off, open, start, strike (into), get going, get to, set about
    related: create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate, adopt, embrace, take on, take up, establish, father, found, institute, organize, pioneer, set up, spawn, get around (to), get down (to), get round (to)
    opposite: conclude, end, finish, terminate
    near: cease, desist, discontinue, halt, knock off, lay off, quit, stop, close, complete, abandon, forsake, leave, abolish, demolish, destroy, exterminate, extinguish, phase out

  2. to come into existence

    "the storm began late in the day and lasted all night"

    similar: actualize, appear, arise, break, commence, dawn, engender, form, materialize, originate, set in, spring, start
    related: be, breathe, exist, live, subsist, arrive, come on, emerge, coalesce, cohere, shape (up), continue, endure, last, persist, survive
    opposite: cease, end, stop
    near: conclude, desist, discontinue, finish, halt, quit, terminate, disappear, dissolve, evaporate, vanish, depart, die, expire, pass away, perish

  3. to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of

    "the religious sect was begun by a small breakaway faction"

    similar: constitute, establish, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, plant, set up, start
    related: author, father, originate, conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), create, devise, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, produce, think (up), construct, put up, develop, enlarge, expand, endow, finance, fund, subsidize, arrange, organize, systematize, systemize, refound, reinitiate, reinstitute, relaunch
    opposite: close (down), phase out, shut (up)
    near: abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify, end, finish, halt, stop, terminate, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Begin

The most common words with a similar meaning to Begin:

commence, embark (on or upon), enter (into or upon), fall (to), get off, kick off, launch, lead off, open, start, strike (into), actualize, appear, arise, break, dawn, engender, form, materialize, originate, set in, spring, constitute, establish, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, pioneer, plant, set up, get going, get to, set about

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Begin

Words with the opposite meaning of Begin:

conclude, end, finish, terminate, cease, stop, close (down), phase out, shut (up)

Related Words for Begin

create, generate, invent, adopt, embrace, take on, take up, father, organize, spawn, get around (to), get down (to), get round (to), be, breathe, exist, live, subsist, arrive, come on, emerge, coalesce, cohere, shape (up), continue, endure, last, persist, survive, author

Near Antonyms of Begin

desist, discontinue, halt, knock off, lay off, quit, close, complete, abandon, forsake, leave, abolish, demolish, destroy, exterminate, extinguish, disappear, dissolve, evaporate, vanish, depart, die, expire, pass away, perish, annihilate, annul, nullify, round (off or out), wind up

Word Forms of Begin

Inflections: began, begun, beginning

Origin & Etymology of Begin

Middle English beginnen, going back to Old English beginnan, from be- be- + -ginnan, going back to Germanic *genn-a-, verbal base of uncertain meaning and origin occurring only with prefixes, found also in Old English onginnan "to be at a starting point, start," Old High German beginnan, Gothic duginnan

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Begin

Words & Phrases Containing Begin

to begin with, can't begin to tell you, can't even begin to describe, tempers begin to fray

Frequently Asked Questions about Begin

What does "Begin" mean?

"Begin" means to do the first part of an action, go into the first part of a process, start. As a verb, it is defined as: to do the first part of an action, go into the first part of a process, start. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Begin"?

Other words for "Begin" include commence, embark (on or upon), enter (into or upon), fall (to), get off, kick off, launch and lead off. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Begin" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Begin"?

There are 92 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Begin". Common alternatives include commence, embark (on or upon), enter (into or upon), fall (to), get off, kick off, launch, lead off, open and start.

What is the opposite of "Begin"?

Antonyms of "Begin" include conclude, end, finish, terminate, cease, stop, close (down) and phase out. Near antonyms include desist, discontinue, halt and knock off.

How do you use "Begin" in a sentence?

Examples of "Begin" in a sentence: "she began walking to work for exercise"; "the storm began late in the day and lasted all night"; "the religious sect was begun by a small breakaway faction".

Is "Begin" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Begin" is a verb.

Is "Begin" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Begin" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Begin"?

"Begin" is pronounced /bi-ˈgin/ and divided into syllables as be·gin.