Beginning — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /bi-ˈgi-niŋ/ be·gin·ning

Meaning & Definition of Beginning

Beginning (noun)

  1. the point at which something begins, start
  2. the first part
  3. origin, source

Beginning (adjective)

  1. just starting out
  2. being first or the first part
  3. introductory

Beginning (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the point at which something begins

    "the actual beginning of the universe is still under debate, with some scientists continuing to uphold the big bang theory"

    similar: alpha, baseline, birth, commencement, dawn, day one, genesis, get-go, inception, incipience, incipiency, kickoff, launch, morning, nascence, nascency, onset, outset, start, threshold
    related: drawing board, first base, ground zero, square one, creation, founding, inauguration, initiation, institution, origination, cradle, fountain, fountainhead, germ, origin, root, seedbed, source, spring, well, wellspring, dawning, opening, advent, appearance, arrival, debut, emergence, childhood, infancy, youth
    opposite: close, conclusion, end, ending, omega
    near: cessation, closing, closure, completion, finale, finish, period, stop, termination, windup

Beginning (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows

    "the beginning part of the book is a portrait of Europe on the eve of the World War I"

    similar: introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, preliminary, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary
    related: introducing, prefacing, preparing, readying, premonitory, warning, basic, elementary, fundamental, ahead, early, former, preceding, previous, prior
    near: after, behind, following, subsequent

  2. of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject

    "a course in beginning geology for nonscience majors"

    similar: abecedarian, basal, basic, elemental, elementary, essential, fundamental, introductory, meat-and-potatoes, rudimental, rudimentary, underlying
    related: primal, primary, prime, simple, crude, primeval, primitive, primordial, rude, uncomplicated, preliminary, preparatory, crucial, important, key
    opposite: advanced
    near: complex, sophisticated, complicated, convoluted, detailed, elaborate, extensive, intricate, developed, evolved, high, higher, refined

Beginning (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: commencing, embarking (on or upon), entering (into or upon), falling (to), getting off, kicking off, launching, leading off, opening, starting, striking (into), getting going, getting to, setting about
    related: creating, generating, inaugurating, initiating, innovating, inventing, originating, adopting, embracing, taking on, taking up, establishing, fathering, founding, instituting, organizing, pioneering, setting up, spawning, getting around (to), getting down (to), getting round (to)
    opposite: concluding, ending, finishing, terminating
    near: ceasing, desisting, discontinuing, halting, knocking off, laying off, quitting, stopping, closing, completing, abandoning, forsaking, leaving, abolishing, demolishing, destroying, exterminating, extinguishing, phasing out

  2. to come into existence

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

    similar: actualizing, appearing, arising, breaking, commencing, dawning, engendering, forming, materializing, originating, setting in, springing, starting
    related: being, breathing, existing, living, subsisting, arriving, coming on, emerging, coalescing, cohering, shaping (up), continuing, enduring, lasting, persisting, surviving
    opposite: ceasing, ending, stopping
    near: concluding, desisting, discontinuing, finishing, halting, quitting, terminating, disappearing, dissolving, evaporating, vanishing, departing, dying, expiring, passing away, perishing

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

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

    similar: constituting, establishing, founding, inaugurating, initiating, innovating, instituting, introducing, launching, pioneering, planting, setting up, starting
    related: authoring, fathering, originating, conceiving, concocting, contriving, cooking (up), creating, devising, fabricating, inventing, making up, manufacturing, producing, thinking (up), constructing, putting up, developing, enlarging, expanding, endowing, financing, funding, subsidizing, arranging, organizing, systematizing, systemizing, refounding, reinitiating, reinstituting, relaunching
    opposite: closing (down), phasing out, shutting (up)
    near: abolishing, annihilating, annulling, nullifying, ending, finishing, halting, stopping, terminating, rounding (off or out), winding up, wrapping up

Related Entry: Begin (verb)

Begin is a different word from Beginning. The synonyms below are for begin, not for beginning.

  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 Beginning

The most common words with a similar meaning to Beginning:

alpha, baseline, birth, commencement, dawn, day one, genesis, get-go, inception, incipience, incipiency, kickoff, launch, morning, nascence, nascency, onset, outset, start, threshold, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, preliminary, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary, abecedarian, basal, basic, elemental, elementary, essential, fundamental, meat-and-potatoes, rudimental, rudimentary, underlying

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Beginning

Words with the opposite meaning of Beginning:

close, conclusion, end, ending, omega, advanced, concluding, finishing, terminating, ceasing, stopping, closing (down), phasing out, shutting (up)

Related Words for Beginning

drawing board, first base, ground zero, square one, creation, inauguration, initiation, institution, origination, cradle, fountain, fountainhead, germ, origin, root, seedbed, source, spring, well, wellspring, advent, appearance, arrival, debut, emergence, childhood, infancy, youth, prefacing, preparing

Near Antonyms of Beginning

cessation, closing, closure, completion, finale, finish, period, stop, termination, windup, after, behind, following, subsequent, complex, sophisticated, complicated, convoluted, detailed, elaborate, extensive, intricate, developed, evolved, high, higher, refined, desisting, discontinuing, halting

Origin & Etymology of Beginning

Middle English biginning, from gerund of beginnen "to begin"

First known use: 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Beginning

Words & Phrases Containing Beginning

beginning rhyme, in the beginning, the beginning of the end

Frequently Asked Questions about Beginning

What does "Beginning" mean?

"Beginning" means the point at which something begins, start. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: the point at which something begins, start. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Beginning"?

Other words for "Beginning" include alpha, baseline, birth, commencement, dawn, day one, genesis and get-go. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Beginning" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Beginning"?

There are 183 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Beginning". Common alternatives include alpha, baseline, birth, commencement, dawn, day one, genesis, get-go, inception and incipience.

What is the opposite of "Beginning"?

Antonyms of "Beginning" include close, conclusion, end, ending, omega, advanced, concluding and finishing. Near antonyms include cessation, closing, closure and completion.

How do you use "Beginning" in a sentence?

Examples of "Beginning" in a sentence: "the actual beginning of the universe is still under debate, with some scientists continuing to uphold the big bang theory"; "the beginning part of the book is a portrait of Europe on the eve of the World War I"; "a course in beginning geology for nonscience majors".

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

"Beginning" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

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

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

How do you pronounce "Beginning"?

"Beginning" is pronounced /bi-ˈgi-niŋ/ and divided into syllables as be·gin·ning.