v., -gan (-găn'), -gun (-gŭn'), -gin·ning, -gins.

v.intr.

1. To take the first step in performing an action; start.
2. To come into being: when life began.
3. To do or accomplish in the least degree: Those measures do not even begin to address the problem.

v.tr.

1. To take the first step in doing; start: began work.
2. To cause to come into being; originate.
3. To come first in: The numeral 1 begins the sequence.

[Middle English biginnen, from Old English beginnan.]

SYNONYMS  begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate. These verbs denote coming into being or taking the first step, as in a procedure. Begin, commence, and start are equivalent in meaning, though commence is more formal, and start often stresses the point where inaction turns to action: The play begins at eight o'clock. The festivities commenced with the national anthem. We will stay on the platform until the train starts. Initiate applies to causing the first steps in a process: I initiated a lawsuit against the driver who hit my car. Inaugurate often connotes a formal beginning: “The exhibition inaugurated a new era of cultural relations” (Serge Schmemann).

verb

1. To go about the initial step in doing (something): approach, commence, embark, enter, get off, inaugurate, initiate, institute, launch, lead off, open, set about, set out, set to, start, take on, take up, undertake. Informal kick off. Idioms: get cracking, get going, get the show on the road. See start/end.
2. To come into being: arise, commence, originate, start. See start/end.

Idioms beginning with begin:
beginner's luck
beginning of the end, the

See also charity begins at home; (begin to) see the light; to start (begin) with.

---

v

Definition: come into being; become functional
Antonyms: die, end

v

Definition: start
Antonyms: complete, conclude, consummate, end, finish

---

IN BRIEF: To start doing; get under way.

Is it time to begin the volleyball game?

Tutor's tip: She can "begin" (start) a "beguin" (flirtation) during the "beguine" (dance), but not if she is a "Beguine" (member of a lay sisterhood).

Common misspelling(s) of begin

• beggin

Dansk (Danish)
v. intr. - opstå, begynde
v. tr. - påbegynde, begynde (på), gå i gang med

idioms:

• begin life as    starte som
• to begin with    for at begynde med, for at starte med, som start

Nederlands (Dutch)
beginnen, aanvangen, aanbreken

Français (French)
v. intr. - commencer, débuter, s'y mettre, commencer par, reprendre, entreprendre, entamer, retentir, prendre (feu), prendre sa source (une rivière), partir de (route), naître (un parti, un mouvement)
v. tr. - commencer, débuter, se mettre à, entreprendre, entonner, déclencher, entamer, déboucher, ouvrir, amorcer, engager, faire naître, lancer (une mode), inaugurer, causer (une guerre), faire naître (une rumeur)

idioms:

• begin life as    débuter dans la vie comme
• to begin with    pour commencer

Deutsch (German)
v. - anfangen, beginnen

idioms:

• begin life as    etwas Neues beginnen
• to begin with    anfangen mit/bei

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - αρχίζω, αρχινώ, ξεκινώ, βάζω μπρος, (καθομ.) έχω πιθανότητα

idioms:

• begin life as    ξεκινώ την καριέρα μου, κάνω τα πρώτα βήματα ως
• to begin with    κατά πρώτον, κατ' αρχάς

Italiano (Italian)
cominciare, aver inizio, intraprendere, iniziare

idioms:

• charity begins at home    prima ai tuoi
• to begin with    per cominciare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - começar

idioms:

• charity begins at home    a caridade começa em casa
• to begin with    primeiramente, antes de tudo

Русский (Russian)
начинаться, начинать

idioms:

• charity begins at home    своя рубашка ближе к телу
• to begin with    во-первых

Español (Spanish)
v. intr. - iniciarse, entablarse
v. tr. - comenzar, empezar, principiar, entablar, incoar

idioms:

• begin life as    comenzar a actuar, comenzar a vivir
• to begin with    para empezar, en primer lugar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - börja

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
开始, 始于, 开始进行, 源于, 着手, 创建, 动手, 使开始

idioms:

• begin life as    生命刚开始当...
• to begin with    首先, 本来

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
v. intr. - 開始, 始於, 開始進行, 源於
v. tr. - 開始, 著手, 創建, 動手, 使開始

idioms:

• begin life as    生命剛開始當...
• to begin with    首先, 本來

한국어 (Korean)
v. intr. - 시작하다, 나타나다
v. tr. - ~을 시작하다, 창설하다, 조금도 ~할 것 같지 않다

idioms:

• to begin with    우선

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 始める, 着手する, 始まる

idioms:

• to begin with    まず第一に, 初めに

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) بدأ, شرع في‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. intr. - ‮התחיל‬
v. tr. - ‮פתח ב-‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.