bə̇ˈgin, bē- verb
( be·gan -ˈgan, -aa(ə)n ; or dialect be·gun -ˈgən ; begun ; beginning ; begins )
Etymology: Middle English beginnen, from Old English beginnan, from be- + -ginnan to begin; akin to Old English on ginnan to begin, Old High German biginnan, Gothic du ginnan
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to perform or execute the first part of an action, activity, or procedure : start : set about or enter on some course or operation
after the introduction, the speaker began
the night shift begins at five o'clock
b. : commence : show occurrence or performance of first steps or stages
work on the project began in May
2.
a. : to come into existence : arise : originate or be called into being
World War I began in 1914
the organization began at a discussion meeting
b. : to have initial or starting point
the alphabet begins with A
3. : to do or succeed in the least degree : make an appreciable approach to doing
can't even begin to describe the beauty of the scene
transitive verb
1.
a. : to set about : go into activity of
they began the attack at dawn
— often used with the infinitive or gerund
beginning to study
he began to speak
the children began laughing
begin doubting his comments
b. : to perform the first steps or stages of : do or perform the first actions or activities of : enter on
he began his career as a teacher
he began his collection in early summer
2.
a. : to found or call into being : bring about a start or establish an origin for
he began the movement with a series of magazine articles
begin a dynasty
b. : start on a way or course : initiate
where I began poor Nell upon the woman's road to hell — John Masefield
c. : to come first in or come in an initial position in
the letter A begins the alphabet
Synonyms:
start , commence , initiate , inaugurate : begin , start , and commence are often interchangeable in meaning. begin , opposed to end, is general and lacks especial connotation
begin a job
begin a journey
begin the day with hope
start , opposed to stop, may apply especially to the first actions, steps, or stages of a course, career, or progression
the conversation stopped, and it refused to start again — Arnold Bennett
the movement recently started by such psychoanalysts — H.J.Muller
commence is sometimes more formal than begin or start , more bookish in suggestion
they sat down and tried to commence a conversation — George Meredith
things never began with Mr. Borthrop Trumbull; they always commenced — George Eliot
initiate always suggests taking or facilitating first steps or preliminary measures culminating in an actual start, without suggesting any necessary continuation
the art of recording thought, invented ages ago, initiated history — A.C.Morrison
a third section called Ardencroft was initiated by Frank Stephens, but was not developed — American Guide Series: Delaware
inaugurate indicates a starting or a bringing into effect or operation with some formality, seriousness, notion of significance, sweep, utility, or service
since it was inaugurated in 1894 the May Festival has presented numerous important American and world premieres — American Guide Series: Michigan
the New Light theology inaugurated by Jonathan Edwards — T.D.Bacon
a passionately modern mind who feels that science has inaugurated a new era — J.C.Powys
not until 1786 was a ferry inaugurated between the two towns — Green Peyton