English Explanatory Dictionary

begin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To start, to initiate or take the first step into something.
  2. To come into existence.
noun
  1. Beginning; start.

Pronunciation

/bɪˈɡɪn/ /bəˈɡɪn/ /biˈɡɪn/ En-uk-to begin.ogg en-us-begin.ogg

Word forms

begin begins beginning began begun no-table-tags glossary beginnest beganst begannest beginneth

Etymology

From Middle English beginnen, from Old English beginnan (“to begin”), from Proto-West Germanic *biginnan, from Proto-Germanic *biginnaną (“to begin”), from be- + base verb *ginnaną also found in Old English onginnan.

Synonyms

begin commence go inchoate initiate open issue get originate rock and roll start

Antonyms

end

Derived words

begin at the wrong end beginnable beginner beginning begin upon begin with the chucky misbegun rebegin to begin with unbegun
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