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BEGIN

 - 6 dictionary results

be⋅gin

  [bi-gin] verb, be⋅gan, be⋅gun, be⋅gin⋅ning.
Use BEGIN in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of some action; commence; start: The story begins with their marriage.
2. to come into existence; arise; originate: The custom began during the Civil War.
–verb (used with object)
3. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of (some action): Begin the job tomorrow.
4. to originate; be the originator of: civic leaders who began the reform movement.
5. to succeed to the slightest extent in (fol. by an infinitive): The money won't even begin to cover expenses.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME beginnen, OE beginnan, equiv. to be- be- + -ginnan to begin, perh. orig. to open, akin to yawn

Synonyms:
3. 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. 4. institute, inaugurate, initiate.

Antonyms:
1. end.

Be⋅gin

  [bey-gin]
–noun
Me⋅na⋅chem  [muh-nah-khuhm] , 1913–92, Israeli political leader, born in Poland: prime minister 1977–83; Nobel peace prize 1978.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To BEGIN
be·gin   (bĭ-gĭn')   
v.   be·gan (-gān'), be·gun (-gŭn'), be·gin·ning, be·gins

v.   intr.

  1. To take the first step in performing an action; start.

  2. To come into being: when life began.

  3. To do or accomplish in the least degree: Those measures do not even begin to address the problem.

v.   tr.

  1. To take the first step in doing; start: began work.

  2. To cause to come into being; originate.

  3. To come first in: The numeral 1 begins the sequence.


[Middle English biginnen, from Old English beginnan.]
Synonyms: These verbs denote coming into being or taking the first step, as in a procedure. Begin, commence, and start are equivalent in meaning, though commence is more formal, and start often stresses the point where inaction turns to action: The play begins at eight o'clock. The festivities commenced with the national anthem. We will stay on the platform until the train starts.
Initiate applies to causing the first steps in a process: I initiated a lawsuit against the driver who hit my car.
Inaugurate often connotes a formal beginning: "The exhibition inaugurated a new era of cultural relations" (Serge Schmemann).
Be·gin   (bā'gĭn)   
Russian-born Israeli politician. He led (1943-1948) Irgun, the Zionist underground movement in Palestine. After the establishment of Israel, Begin became a political leader known for his hard-line views on the Arabs, but as prime minister (1977-1983) he strove to resolve the Arab-Israel conflict. He shared the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize with Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

begin 
O.E. beginnan, also onginnan (class III strong verb; past tense ongann, pp. ongunnen), from bi- "be" + W.Gmc. *ginnan, of obscure meaning, found only in compounds, perhaps "to open, open up" (cf. O.H.G. in-ginnan "to cut open, open up," also "begin, undertake"). Meaning "beginner, novice" is from 1470.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

begin

In addition to the idioms beginning with begin, also see charity begins at home; (begin to) see the light; to start (begin) with.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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