Definition of begin in English:

verbbegins, beginning, began, begun

• 1with object Perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity)

  ‘Peter had just begun a life sentence for murder’

  with infinitive or present participle ‘it was beginning to snow’

  no object ‘she began by rewriting the syllabus’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Back in Oxford, he sat on the City Council, and began his lifelong activity of prison visiting.’
  • ‘He was inspired to begin work on a book about it from an African point of view.’
  • ‘Diversification of the group's activities had also begun by then.’
  • ‘The county says it's hired private contractors to begin the clean-up work after the first of the year.’
  • ‘It was in that town that his son Étienne was born, was brought up, and began his education.’
  • ‘Don't forget to warm up and stretch properly before beginning any athletic activity.’
  • ‘Before you begin any activity, drink at least one glass of water 30 minutes prior.’
  • ‘Leigh famously begins work on his projects with no script, no characters and no names, expecting the actors to pitch in on all of these in a collaborative workshop style.’
  • ‘Contractors are expected to begin work within two months with a view to completion within 18 months.’
  • ‘To solve this problem we arranged to bring in teams of volunteers at night who began the task in earnest - time was running out.’
  • ‘They may also independently inherit property and begin the process leading to a divorce.’
  • ‘He will have to prove himself again in his next role by continuing the innovative work begun by Danon.’
  • ‘He was so impressed with it that he began the process which has led to the opening of the first scheme in inner London.’
  • ‘The man turns away and changes transparencies on the overhead projector and begins his lesson.’
  • ‘Please could you send me the necessary paperwork required to begin this procedure.’
  • ‘Then she began her task to educate others on the battle against discrimination and AIDS.’
  • ‘He begins a business studies degree course at University of Limerick next week after being offered a place earlier this summer.’
  • ‘Ben had hoped that Carl would be able to control the hidden powers in his suit, but Carl had only begun to realize his potential before his death.’
  • ‘As he watched the plane started its engines and began to travel down the concrete.’
  • ‘Finally, he began to convert starts into substance and his running was supreme throughout.’

  Synonyms

  start, set about, go about, embark on, launch into, get down to, take up, turn one's hand to, undertake, tackle

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1no object Come into being or have its starting point at a certain time or place.
     ‘a new era had begun’
     ‘the cycleway begins at Livingston village’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Whether by accident or design, McKinven could be about to find that life begins at 40-or at least begins again.’
     • ‘What began as an industrial campaign turned into a campaign for land rights.’
     • ‘Their marker is brought back to the starting point and they begin once again.’
     • ‘A challenge was there to be met and it began as soon as you were near the ground.’
     • ‘It began as a wine bar, and the origins show through in the excellence of the wine list and cheese board.’
     • ‘What began as a hobby for the actress is now a viable business proposition.’
     • ‘The fire has burned about 480 square miles since it began as two blazes last week.’
     • ‘The office has existed in England for at least 800 years, and began as a sort of secretaryship to the King.’
     • ‘Since it began as a cartoon in the 1920s, the story of Annie has touched hearts.’
     • ‘What began as a steady walk by day's end was on the verge of turning into a run.’
     • ‘What began as a hobby a decade ago has evolved into giving performances all over the State.’
     • ‘It began as a good idea by a small but determined group of York residents.’
     • ‘It began as a funerary tradition but today is associated with a celebration.’
     • ‘It began as a family day out at the seaside - but a mother and her children were swept to their deaths.’
     • ‘What began as an attempt to rebut the claim turned into a major research project lasting months.’
     • ‘What began as an academic issue may now be, literally, a matter of life and death.’
     • ‘To widespread relief, the second half began as the first had ended and not as it began.’
     • ‘What began as a small, local competition evolved into an event of national importance.’
     • ‘Regardless of the result this Sunday, Cyril Lyons has now stamped his own personality on this team and this county, and a new era has very definitely begun.’
     Synonyms

     appear, arise, become apparent, make an appearance, spring up, crop up, turn up, surface, emerge, come into existence, come into being, originate, start, develop, unfold

     View synonyms
  2. 1.2no object (of a person) hold a specified role before holding any other.
     ‘he began as a drummer’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Russ began as a DJ playing soul in clubs like the Sandpiper, in Fallowfield, and touring the country.’
     • ‘Well, fate had decided for him that he provide cheers to people for he had begun as a villain in his early days.’
     • ‘Like Warhol, he began as a commercial artist and his art has its roots in advertising.’
     • ‘Susan Rae, a young Scot with an accent to match, began as an announcer on Radio 4 in the 1980s.’
     • ‘He began as senior writer and was promoted a year later to associate editor and associate publisher.’
     • ‘That's a lot of honour for someone who began as an outspoken lawyer in Dublin.’
     • ‘Musically, he began as a boy soprano and his music teacher took him to village halls to perform.’
     • ‘William Petty began as a physician and ended as a pioneer social statistician.’
     • ‘After training he began as a curate at Chipping Barnet and later became team vicar at Dunstable.’
     • ‘He began as a rugby league player in Bradford, then switched to union at Bradford and with Keswick.’
     • ‘He began as a hairy hippie banjo player who took great delight at poking fun at his fellow Scots.’
     • ‘He began as a court photographer, but pretty soon went to work for magazines.’
     • ‘I began as the Agent for Wigan where I learned a great deal which stood me in good stead later at Knutsford.’
     • ‘His career began as a PC at Rochdale, working specifically at Littleborough and Milnrow.’
  3. 1.3begin withno object Have as a first element.
     ‘words beginning with a vowel’
     More example sentences

     • ‘There's an ancient rule of life, which is that in Korea life begins with the spring.’
     • ‘This four-step process begins with removal of lacquer and paint using a chemical stripper.’
     • ‘They've lost the record for everyone whose surname begins with an M.’
     • ‘Now he really likes his sequels, and conveniently his name begins with D.’
     • ‘As far as Viccy goes: the word begins with T and ends with T.’
     • ‘Each chapter begins with a list of symptoms that need investigation by a doctor.’
     • ‘Witnesses to the accident said the Peugeot 206 has a registration number beginning with J654.’
     • ‘Children's names beginning with V.’
     • ‘In particular, pay close attention to the line that begins with A.’
  4. 1.4begin on/uponno object Set to work at.
     ‘Picasso began on a great canvas’
     More example sentences

     • ‘But for now he is happy to explore the surprises that the house provides as work cautiously begins on stripping away the paint.’
     • ‘Local councillors are particularly keen to get a handle on the youth problems before work begins on the railings around the war memorial.’
     • ‘Work begins on setting the festive scene a month before Christmas, ensuring her display is in place in good time.’
     • ‘Work begins on putting in place new traffic signals at the junction of Bank Street and Folds Road on January 20.’
     • ‘Work also begins on extending the beers, wines and spirits aisles.’
     • ‘Resurfacing work to the top deck of the multi-storey car park begins on Monday, February 9th.’
     • ‘Rail travellers will face further delays from today when engineering work begins on a new connecting track.’
     • ‘Some touch ups are still needed inside, and when the weather changes, the work begins on the outside.’
     • ‘Exodus begins on the steadily diminishing island of Wing, bombarded by seas given velocity by global warming.’
     • ‘Indeed the availability of the new car park could be badly needed when work begins on the Wine Street car park.’
     • ‘From June work begins on repairing parapets on the Millbrook flyover.’
     • ‘Most of the research begins on the internet, followed by calls to make appointments with foreign estate agents.’
     • ‘Work begins on the project in October this year and is expected to be completed by July next year.’
     • ‘The organisation has been investigating the site before work begins on a council project to restore it.’
  5. 1.5with direct speech Start speaking by saying.
     ‘‘Mr Smith,’ he began’
     Synonyms

     open, lead off, get under way, get going, get off the ground, start, start off, go ahead

     View synonyms
  6. 1.6begin atno object (of an article) cost at least (a specified amount)
     ‘rooms begin at £139’
     More example sentences

     • ‘In terms of cost, Clements assesses each job separately, with prices beginning at €200.’
     • ‘These accumulate large amounts of protein and oil bodies throughout development, beginning at about 10 dpa.’
     • ‘Prices begin at £664 per person, with flights departing on March 1.’
     • ‘The cost begins at $10.’

• 2informal no object, with negative and infinitive Not have any chance or likelihood of doing a specified thing.

  ‘I can't begin to tell you how much I hate that commercial’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Clearly this too is an honour that most of you have little chance of even beginning to aspire to.’
  • ‘Indeed, even to-day, one cannot begin to comprehend the appalling fate suffered by these two young girls.’
  • ‘He concluded by saying that we couldn't even begin to comprehend what one day in his shoes would be like.’
  • ‘Just my two cents on a religion I don't even begin to comprehend.’
  • ‘Because these numbers are hard for people around the world to even begin to comprehend.’
  • ‘Murray cannot begin to comprehend that some people might find the Landlord funny because they agree with what he says.’
  • ‘How he got there in the first place and why he felt the need to massacre the chickens, she couldn't even begin to comprehend.’
  • ‘Geez, I couldn't even begin to comprehend as to how I managed to associate myself with these fools.’
  • ‘All of it reeked of animosity, belligerence, and things the pixies could not even begin to comprehend.’
  • ‘Tubes for breathing, food, water and things they couldn't even begin to comprehend.’
  • ‘Ada could not even begin to comprehend what Adam had been thinking.’
  • ‘In fact, not even Jess couldn't even begin to comprehend what was in store for him.’
  • ‘Before Tzaer could begin to comprehend what the stuff was, his skin started to crack.’
  • ‘As a child I couldn't even begin to comprehend as to why this was and I looked elsewhere for comfort.’
  • ‘They would be what America had been in days they could not ever begin to comprehend.’
  • ‘Konah could not even begin to comprehend the terrible dread and fear that enveloped the girl's screams.’
  • ‘I looked at her blankly, for I could not even begin to plead with her to comprehend.’
  • ‘I cannot begin to understand the person that thought up that.’