BEGIN

[verb] beginning, [past simple] began, [past participle] begun - to start (to be, do, etc.)I began the book six months ago, but I can't seem to finish it. [T]Now the owner of a huge chain of restaurants, she began (her career) as a humble waitress. [I or T]I have so much to tell you, I don't know where to begin. [I]What time does the concert begin? [I]The bridge was begun five years ago and the estimated cost has already doubled. [T]The film they want to watch begins at seven. [I]If you want to learn to play a musical instrument, it might be a good idea to begin on something simple. [I]The play begins with the sisters in the kitchen together. [I]The word 'cat' begins with the letter 'c'. [I]The meeting began promisingly, but then things started to go wrong. [I]Jane has just begun learning to drive. [+ verb-ing]After waiting for half an hour she was beginning to get angry. [+ to infinitive]"Well," he began (= started by saying). "I don't quite know how to tell you this." [+ speech]If you can't (even) begin to do something, it is very difficult for you to do it.I can't begin to explain how I ended up on the roof.As a top businessman, he couldn't even begin to imagine/understand real poverty.There were six of us to begin with (= at first), then two people left.The hotel was awful! To begin with (= first), our room was far too small. Then we found that the shower didn't work.