/ bɪˈgɪn; NAmE / verb ( be·gin·ning , began / bɪˈgæn; NAmE / begun / bɪˈgʌn; NAmE /)
1.
to start doing sth; to do the first part of sth :
[ vn ]
We began work on the project in May.
I began (= started reading) this novel last month and I still haven't finished it.
He always begins his lessons with a warm-up exercise.
He began his political career as a student (= when he was a student) .
[ v ]
Shall I begin?
Let's begin at page 9.
She began by thanking us all for coming.
[ v to inf ]
I began to feel dizzy.
At last the guests began to arrive.
She began to cry.
It was beginning to snow.
I was beginning to think you'd never come.
[ v -ing ]
Everyone began talking at once.
When will you begin recruiting?
➡ note at start
2.
[ v ] to start to happen or exist, especially from a particular time :
When does the concert begin?
Work on the new bridge is due to begin in September.
The evening began well.
3.
begin as sth [ v ] to be sth first, before becoming sth else :
He began as an actor, before starting to direct films.
What began as a minor scuffle turned into a full-scale riot.
4.
[ v ] to have sth as the first part or the point where sth starts :
Use 'an' before words beginning with a vowel.
'I'm thinking of a country in Asia.' 'What does it begin with (= what is the first letter) ?'
Each chapter begins with a quotation.
Where does Europe end and Asia begin?
The path begins at Livingston village.
5.
[ v speech ] to start speaking :
'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, 'welcome to the Town Hall.'
6.
to start or make sth start for the first time :
[ v ]
The school began in 1920, with only ten pupils.
[ vn ]
He began a new magazine on post-war architecture.
7.
[ v to inf ] not ~ to make no attempt to do sth or have no chance of doing sth :
I can't begin to thank you enough.
He didn't even begin to understand my problem.
•
IDIOMS
- to begin with
—more at charity
••
WHICH WORD
begin / start
There is not much difference in meaning between begin and start , though start is more common in spoken English:
What time does the concert start / begin?
•
She started / began working here three months ago.
Begin is often used when you are describing a series of events:
The story begins on the island of Corfu.
Start , but not begin , can also mean 'to start a journey', 'to start something happening' or 'to start a machine working':
We'll need to start at 7.00.
•
Who do you think started the fire?
•
The car won't start.
You can use either an infinitive or a form with -ing after begin and start , with no difference in meaning:
I didn't start worrying / to worry until she was 2 hours late.
After the forms beginning and starting , the -ing form of the verb is not normally used:
It's starting / beginning to rain.
• It's starting / beginning raining.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English beginnan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German beginnen .