INDEX:
1. the beginning of something
2. at the beginning
3. done or happening at the beginning
4. the time when something is first used or discovered
5. from the beginning
6. the first part of a story, book, film etc
7. something that comes at the beginning of a book, speech etc
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ END
to start happening or doing something : ↑ START
see also
↑ FIRST
↑ COME FROM
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1. the beginning of something
▷ the beginning /ðə bɪˈgɪnɪŋ/ [singular noun]
the first part of an event, period of time etc :
the beginning of something
▪ I haven’t seen her since the beginning of last year.
▪ It was the beginning of a long friendship.
▪ This fall’s presidential election could mean the beginning of a new era in American politics.
back to the beginning
▪ It’s so long since I spoke German, I’d have to go right back to the beginning if I took a class in it now.
▷ start /stɑːʳt/ [singular noun]
the beginning of something, or the way that something begins :
the start of something
▪ The runners are now lining up for the start of the race.
▪ Tomorrow marks the start of the presidential election campaign.
▪ They had an exotic meal to celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year.
a good/bad start to something
▪ A pint of vodka at eight o'clock in the morning was not a good start to the day.
get off to a good/bad start
▪ If we get off to a good start this season, I think the team has a real chance to win the championship.
▷ origin /ˈɒrɪdʒən, ˈɒrədʒənǁˈɔː-, ˈɑː-/ [countable noun]
the origin of something is where it came from or how it first started to exist :
▪ AIDS became widespread in the 1980s, but no-one is certain of its origin.
origin of
▪ He’s writing a dictionary that explains the origin of words.
▪ Hughes’s book ‘The Fatal Shore’ is a study of the origins of Australia as a British penal colony.
▪ Advanced computer systems could trace the origin of every gun used in a violent crime.
have your/its origins in something
▪ Today’s ceremony is a modern version of a tradition which has its origins in medieval times.
country/place of origin
▪ The magazines were organized by country of origin.
▷ starting point /ˈstɑːʳtɪŋ pɔɪnt/ [countable noun usually singular]
the starting point of something is where it begins or develops from :
▪ If you want to learn about working overseas, this book would be a good starting point.
starting point for/of
▪ Duffy’s difficult relationship with her mother was the starting point for her fiction.
▪ The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand is seen as the starting point of the war.
▷ the onset /ði ˈɒnsetǁ-ˈɑːn-, -ˈɔːn-/ [singular noun]
the time when something begins, especially something unpleasant such as an illness :
the onset of something
▪ Make sure to check your air conditioning before the onset of hot weather.
▪ The onset of the Depression meant starvation and suffering for millions of people.
▪ DiPietro’s research shows that an active lifestyle can delay the onset of many diseases common with aging.
2. at the beginning
▷ at the beginning/start /ət ðə bɪˈgɪnɪŋ, ˈstɑːʳt/ [adverb]
▪ At the start it looked as though Italy would win, but Argentina improved as the game went on.
▪ She was nervous at the beginning but she settled down as she got further into her speech.
at the beginning/start of
▪ We pay our rent at the beginning of the month.
▪ For homework tonight, start at the beginning of chapter three and read up to page 98.
▪ At the start of the century, barely 3% of the population was literate.
▷ at first/initially /ət ˈfɜːʳst, ɪˈnɪʃ ə li/ [adverb]
use this to say what happened at the beginning, especially when something different happened later. Initially is more formal than at first :
▪ Barney was quiet at first, but gradually he became more confident.
▪ At first I didn’t think Nancy and I would get along.
▪ They offered her the job, initially on a temporary basis but later as a full member of the staff.
initial [adjective only before noun]
▪ My initial impression of Sadie was that she was shy and a little unhappy.
▷ to start with/to begin with /tə ˈstɑːʳt wɪð, tə bɪˈgɪn wɪð/ [adverb] especially spoken
use this to talk about what happens at the beginning, especially when something different may happen later :
▪ Our employees receive health benefits and $28,000 a year to start with.
▪ Even children who are healthy to begin with wouldn’t survive long in these terrible conditions.
▷ originally /əˈrɪdʒɪn ə li, əˈrɪdʒən ə li, əˈrɪdʒ ə n ə li/ [adverb]
at the beginning - use this to talk about the situation at the time in the past when something first started :
▪ Originally, they told me I was only going to work 35 hours a week.
▪ Two hundred people showed up for the wedding, about 50 more than we originally planned.
▷ at the outset /ət ði ˈaʊtset/ [adverb] formal
if something is known, believed, decided etc at the outset, it is known etc from the very earliest point in a period of time or activity :
▪ Sylvia knew at the outset what her ultimate goals were.
▪ It had been decided at the outset that Theresa would be our spokesperson.
3. done or happening at the beginning
▷ initial /ɪˈnɪʃ ə l/ [adjective only before noun]
initial feelings/costs/reaction etc
feelings, costs etc that exist or are experienced at the beginning of an event or process :
▪ Simon’s initial feeling when he heard about the wedding was surprise.
▪ After initial delays, construction on the new library is due to start in two weeks.
▪ The initial cost of the computer system is more than made up for in terms of eventual profit.
▷ early /ˈɜːʳli/ [adverb]
close to the beginning of an event, story, period of time etc :
▪ I’ll be seeing him early next week.
early in the game/story/century etc
▪ Rangers scored early in the game but fell behind within ten minutes.
early [adjective only before noun]
▪ We’re planning to go to Barcelona in early September.
▪ He was described as a man in his early thirties between 30 and 33 years old .
▪ the story of her early life in India
▷ preliminary /prɪˈlɪmɪn ə ri, prɪˈlɪmən ə riǁ-neri/ [adjective only before noun]
happening at the beginning of a process or event, especially in order to prepare for the rest of it :
▪ The architect’s plans are still in the preliminary stages.
▪ Preliminary market research has shown that most Americans prefer environmentally-friendly products.
▷ introductory /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkt ə ri/ [adjective only before noun]
introductory remark/paragraph/chapter etc
something someone says or writes at the beginning of a book, speech etc to explain what it is about :
▪ Williams cleared his throat, made a few introductory remarks welcoming everyone, then began his speech.
▪ The text has been revised and a new introductory essay has been added for the second edition.
▷ opening /ˈəʊp ə nɪŋ/ [adjective only before noun]
said or written at the beginning of a speech, book, play etc :
▪ In the opening chapter, Ramona sits at the breakfast table thinking about the first day of school.
▪ The audience strongly objected to the opening remarks of the president’s speech.
▪ Hilary makes a brief appearance in the opening scene, but doesn’t have a major part.
4. the time when something is first used or discovered
▷ the arrival of /ði əˈraɪv ə l ɒv/ [noun phrase]
the time when an important new idea, method, or product is first used or discovered, especially one that will lead to important changes :
▪ With the arrival of the railroads after the Civil War, more and more people began moving west to California.
▪ The arrival of convenience foods took much of the hard work out of preparing meals.
▷ the coming of also the advent of formal /ðə ˈkʌmɪŋ ɒv, ði ˈædvent ɒv/ [noun phrase]
the time when an important new system, idea, product, or method begins to exist or be used, causing important changes in society :
▪ The Middle East changed dramatically with the coming of Islam 600 years after Christ.
▪ Before the coming of the railways in the late 1860s these old roads were the only link between towns.
▪ The advent of TV led to major changes in our social and family life.
▪ Women workers tended to lose their jobs with the advent of new technology.
▷ the birth of /ðə ˈbɜːʳθ ɒv/ [noun phrase]
the beginning of something, for example a new political movement, that will become more and more important, and will change the way many people behave or think :
▪ More than anyone else, Elvis Presley was responsible for the birth of rock and roll.
▪ The birth of modern science was to fundamentally change people’s attitudes towards religion.
▷ the dawn of /ðə ˈdɔːn ɒv/ [noun phrase]
the beginning of an important period of time in history - used especially in literature :
▪ People have worshipped gods since the dawn of civilization.
▪ Ordinary life would never be the same again after the dawn of the Industrial age.
▪ A small group of poets and writers ushered in the dawn of the Romantic era in literature.
5. from the beginning
▷ from the beginning/start /frəm ðə bɪˈgɪnɪŋ, ˈstɑːʳt/ [adverb]
▪ Tell me everything that happened, from the beginning.
▪ Their marriage has been in trouble from the start.
right from the beginning/start
from the very earliest time
▪ Right from the start I could tell she didn’t like me.
▪ Mark felt very comfortable in his new job, right from the beginning.
from start to finish
from the beginning to the end
▪ This project has been a complete nightmare from start to finish.
▷ from the word go /frəm ðə ˌwɜːʳd ˈgəʊ/ [adverb] informal
from the beginning - used especially when something has happened or existed continuously since the beginning :
▪ Eva’s been very supportive from the word go.
▪ The Elfin Theatre Company was doomed to failure from the word go.
▷ since/from day one /sɪns, frəm ˌdeɪ ˈwʌn/ [adverb]
if something has been the situation or has been someone’s purpose since or from day one, it has clearly been the situation or their purpose ever since the beginning :
▪ From day one I knew we’d have a strong team this year.
▪ We’ve opposed this amendment since day one and we’d be stupid to change our minds now.
▷ from the outset /frəm ði ˈaʊtset/ [adverb]
from the time when a continuing activity or process began :
▪ The new group had, from the outset, campaigned for an improvement in childcare provision.
▪ I was determined from the outset to make the most of going to university.
6. the first part of a story, book, film etc
▷ beginning /bɪˈgɪnɪŋ/ [singular noun]
▪ Schoolchildren are taught that stories should have a beginning, a middle and an end.
the beginning of something
▪ The beginning of the movie is very violent.
▪ The author tells us who the killer is at the very beginning of the novel.
▷ the start /ðə ˈstɑːʳt/ [singular noun]
the point where a film, book, story etc begins :
▪ I tried to read ‘Tristram Shandy’ but I couldn’t get past the start.
the start of something
▪ Not much happens at the start of the film -- don’t worry if you’re late.
▪ Speakers often give an overview at the start of a lecture and a summary at the end.
▷ the first part /ðə ˈfɜːʳst ˌpɑːʳt/ [noun phrase]
the first part of a piece of writing that has several parts, especially parts that can be studied separately :
▪ Children will enjoy this movie, though they may be confused during the first part.
the first part of something
▪ The first part of this textbook deals with mechanics.
▪ Please turn to the first part of the report, which relates to safety matters.
▷ opening /ˈəʊp ə nɪŋ/ [singular noun]
the first words or phrases of a book or play which are very important because they tell you about the scene, the characters, and the writer’s ideas :
▪ After a slow dream-like opening, the play explodes into life.
the opening of
▪ The opening of Charles Dickens’ ‘Bleak House’ describes a thick London fog.
7. something that comes at the beginning of a book, speech etc
▷ introduction also intro informal /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃ ə n, ˈɪntrəʊ/ [countable noun]
a short explanation, description, or discussion at the beginning of a book, piece of music etc :
▪ After an introduction by the chairperson, we’ll get on with the day’s discussions.
▪ None of us know anything about this subject, so we’d appreciate it if you give us a brief intro before you start.
▪ The drummer gave a four-bar intro before the other musicians joined in.
introduction to
▪ In the introduction to her fascinating book, O'Brien explains how she first became interested in music.
▷ preamble /priːˈæmb ə lǁˈpriːæmb ə l/ [countable noun]
an introduction to a speech or piece of writing, especially one that is boring or too long :
▪ There’s a big difference between the document’s lengthy preamble and the actual content.
▷ prologue /ˈprəʊlɒgǁ-lɔːg, -lɑːg/ [countable noun]
an introduction to a piece of writing, for example a play or a long poem :
▪ The brief prologue sets the scene for what is to follow.
prologue to
▪ In his prologue to ‘Faust’, Goethe said some very interesting things about art.
▷ preface /ˈprefɪs, ˈprefəs/ [countable noun]
a part of a book that comes before the main part and explains what it is about :
▪ This edition contains a new preface by the author.
preface to
▪ Murray agreed to write the preface to Baker’s book, as a favor to his old friend.