First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
begin
verb be·gin \bi-ˈgin, bē-\
: to do the first part of an action : to start doing something
: to start to work on, produce, or give attention to (something)
: to cause (something) to start
be·gan \-ˈgan\ be·gun \-ˈgən\ be·gin·ning
Full Definition of BEGIN
intransitive verb
1
: to do the first part of an action : go into the first part of a process : start
2
a : to come into existence : arise b : to have a starting point
3
: to do or succeed in the least degree <I can't begin to tell you how pleased I am>
transitive verb
1
: to set about the activity of : start
2
— to begin with
: as the first thing to be considered
See begin defined for English-language learners
See begin defined for kids
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Origin of BEGIN
Middle English beginnen, from Old English beginnan; akin to Old High German biginnan to begin, Old English onginnan
Related to BEGIN
Synonym Discussion of BEGIN
begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. begin , start , and commence are often interchangeable. begin, opposed to end, is the most general <begin a trip> <began dancing>. start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages <the work started slowly>. commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start <commence firing> <commenced a conversation>. initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue <initiated diplomatic contacts>. inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance <the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine>. usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate <ushered in a period of economic decline>.
Rhymes with BEGIN
add-in, again, akin, all-in, backspin, bearskin, Benin, blow in, Boleyn, bowfin, break-in, bring in, buckskin, build in, built-in, burn-in, butt in, calfskin, call in, call-in, capeskin, cash in, cave-in, chagrin, check in, check-in, chime in, chip in, clothespin, come in, coonskin, crankpin, cut in, deerskin, dig in, doeskin, do in, draw in, drive-in, drop in, duckpin, dustbin, edge in, fade-in, fall in, fill in, fill-in, foreskin, Fuxin, get in, give in, goatskin, go in, Guilin, hairpin, hand in, hang in, Harbin, has-been, headpin, herein, horn in, Jilin, kick in, kidskin, kingpin, lambskin, lay in, lead-in, lie-in, linchpin, live-in, lived-in, lobe-fin, locked-in, log in, look-in, love-in, moleskin, move in, munchkin, Nankin, ninepin, no-win, oilskin, phone-in, pigskin, pinyin, pitch in, plug-in, plugged-in, pull in, punch in, pushpin, put in, rub in, ruin, run in, run-in, saimin, scarfpin, scarfskin, sealskin, send in, set in, sharkskin, shear pin, sheepskin, shoo-in, shut-in, sidespin, sign in, sit-in, sleep in, sleep-in, sloe gin, snakeskin, sock in, stand in, stand-in, step in, stickpin, suck in, swanskin, swear in, swim fin, tail fin, tailspin, take in, tap-in, teach-in, tenpin, therein, tholepin, threadfin, throw in, tie-in, tiepin, tip-in, toe-in, Tonkin, topspin, trade in, trade-in, tune in, tuned-in, Turin, turn in, unpin, walk-in, wear thin, weigh in, wherein, whip in, wineskin, win-win, within, woolskin, work in, wrist pin, write-in, Yeltsin
Begin
biographical name Be·gin \ˈbā-gin\
Definition of BEGIN
Me*na*chem \mə-ˈnä-ḵəm\ 1913–1992 prime min. of Israel (1977–83)
BEGINS Defined for Kids
begin
verb be·gin \bi-ˈgin\
be·gan \-ˈgan\be·gun \-ˈgən\be·gin·ning
Definition of BEGIN for Kids
1
: to do the first part of an action <Please begin writing.>
2
: to come into existence <Our problems were just beginning.>
3
: to start to have a feeling or thought <I began to feel sick.>
4
: to have a starting point <The alphabet begins with the letter A.>
5
: to do or succeed in the least degree <I can't begin to explain.>
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