began definition | Dictionary.com

be⋅gan

[bi-gan]

Use began in a Sentence

–verb

pt. of begin.

be⋅gin

[bi-gin]

verb, be⋅gan, be⋅gun, be⋅gin⋅ning.

–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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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be·gan (bĭ-gān')

v. Past tense of begin.

be·gin (bĭ-gĭn')

v. be·gan (-gān'), be·gun (-gŭn'), be·gin·ning, be·gins

v. intr.

To take the first step in performing an action; start.
To come into being: when life began.
To do or accomplish in the least degree: Those measures do not even begin to address the problem.

v. tr.

To take the first step in doing; start: began work.
To cause to come into being; originate.
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).

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