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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Begin

/bɪˈɡɪn/ · verb

Meaning

(ergative) To start, to initiate or take the first step into something..

Definitions by Sense

  1. (ergative) To start, to initiate or take the first step into something.
  2. (intransitive) To come into existence.
  3. (nonstandard) Beginning; start.

Example Sentences

I began playing the piano at the age of five.
Now that everyone is here, we should begin the presentation.
The program begins at 9 o’clock on the dot.
I rushed to get to class on time, but the lesson had already begun.
The Apoſtle begins our Knowledge in the Creatures, which lead us to the Knowledge of God, if we will make uſe of our Reaſon: [...]
Ye Nymphs of Solyma! begin the ſong: / To heav'nly themes ſublimer ſtrains belong.
Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.
Of all the queer collections of humans outside of a crazy asylum, it seemed to me this sanitarium was the cup winner. […] When you're well enough off so's you don't have to fret about anything but your heft or your diseases you begin to get queer, I suppose.

Synonyms for begin

Antonyms for begin

Related Words

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does begin mean?

Begin means (ergative) To start, to initiate or take the first step into something..

What is a synonym for begin?

Common synonyms include begin, commence, go, inchoate.

What is the opposite of begin?

Possible antonyms include end, terminate, cease, finish.

How do you use begin in a sentence?

I began playing the piano at the age of five.

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.