BEGIN (began, beginning, begun)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Begin mean? 

• BEGIN (noun)
  The noun BEGIN has 1 sense:

1. Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)

  Familiarity information: BEGIN used as a noun is very rare.

• BEGIN (verb)
  The verb BEGIN has 10 senses:

1. take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

2. have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense

3. set in motion, cause to start

4. begin to speak or say

5. be the first item or point, constitute the beginning or start, come first in a series

6. have a beginning, of a temporal event

7. have a beginning characterized in some specified way

8. begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object

9. achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative

10. begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language

  Familiarity information: BEGIN used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BEGIN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Begin; Menachem Begin

Instance hypernyms:

national leader; solon; statesman (a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs)

• BEGIN (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

begin; commence; get; get down; set about; set out; start; start out

Context example:

Let's get down to work now

Verb group:

begin (begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "begin"):

strike out (set out on a course of action)

bestir oneself; get cracking; get going; get moving; get rolling; get started; get weaving (start to be active)

embark; enter (set out on (an enterprise or subject of study))

come on (occur or become available)

launch; plunge (begin with vigor)

break in (start in a certain activity, enterprise, or role)

auspicate (commence in a manner calculated to bring good luck)

get to (arrive at the point of)

jump off (set off quickly, usually with success)

fall (begin vigorously)

recommence (begin again)

attack (set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Sentence examples:

They begin to move
They begin moving

Antonym:

end (bring to an end or halt)

Derivation:

beginner (someone new to a field or activity)

beginning (the act of starting something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

begin; start

Context example:

Prices for these homes start at $250,000

Verb group:

begin; start (have a beginning characterized in some specified way)

begin (have a beginning, of a temporal event)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "begin"):

break out; erupt (start abruptly)

bud (start to grow or develop)

break out (begin suddenly and sometimes violently)

kick in; set in (enter a particular state)

dawn (appear or develop)

originate (begin a trip at a certain point, as of a plane, train, bus, etc.)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s something

Antonym:

end (have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Set in motion, cause to start

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

begin; commence; lead off; start

Context example:

begin a new chapter in your life

Cause:

begin; start (have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense)

Verb group:

begin (have a beginning, of a temporal event)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "begin"):

inaugurate; introduce; usher in (be a precursor of)

commence; embark on; start; start up (get off the ground)

set off (set in motion or cause to begin)

recommence (cause to start anew)

jump-start; jumpstart (start or re-start vigorously)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

end (bring to an end or halt)

Derivation:

beginner (a person who founds or establishes some institution)

beginning (the event consisting of the start of something)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Begin to speak or say

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

'Now listen, friends', he began

Hypernyms (to "begin" is one way to...):

mouth; speak; talk; utter; verbalise; verbalize (express in speech)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

They won't begin the story

Sense 5

Meaning:

Be the first item or point, constitute the beginning or start, come first in a series

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

The convocation ceremony officially begins the semester

Verb group:

begin; start (have a beginning characterized in some specified way)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

beginning (the first part or section of something)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Have a beginning, of a temporal event

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

The company's Asia tour begins next month

Hypernyms (to "begin" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Verb group:

begin; commence; lead off; start (set in motion, cause to start)

begin; start (have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Sense 7

Meaning:

Have a beginning characterized in some specified way

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

begin; start

Context example:

The semester begins with a convocation ceremony

Hypernyms (to "begin" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Verb group:

begin; start (begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object)

begin; start (have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense)

begin (be the first item or point, constitute the beginning or start, come first in a series)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Sense 8

Meaning:

Begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

begin; start

Context example:

We started physics in 10th grade

Hypernyms (to "begin" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Verb group:

begin; start (have a beginning characterized in some specified way)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 9

Meaning:

Achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

You cannot even begin to understand the problem we had to deal with during the war

Hypernyms (to "begin" is one way to...):

accomplish; achieve; attain; reach (to gain with effort)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 10

Meaning:

Begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

We started French in fourth grade

Verb group:

begin; commence; get; get down; set about; set out; start; start out (take the first step or steps in carrying out an action)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Later on they would have to begin living life and going through the mill as he had gone.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I could only look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the light offended my eyes.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Then I broke my blue ribbon and began to drink again, but I think I should not have done it if Mary had been the same as ever.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Where were you when you began to feel bad?

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Won't you go with me?" pleaded the girl, who had begun to look upon the little old woman as her only friend.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

This month, that special shining aspect will begin to spread its magic.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I scarcely know where to begin.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He began to shake as with an ague-fit, till the gun fell from his hand with a splash.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Then the skin of my throat began to tingle as one's flesh does when the hand that is to tickle it approaches nearer—nearer.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply, but, unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)