Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Begin

//bɪˈɡɪn// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Beginning; start. nonstandard

    "In prayer, in the light, I see my kin / I touch my tree, my roots, my begin"

Verb
  1. 1
    To start, to initiate or take the first step into something. ergative

    "I began playing the piano at the age of five."

  2. 2
    take the first step or steps in carrying out an action wordnet
  3. 3
    To come into existence. intransitive

    "Vast chain of being! which from God began."

  4. 4
    set in motion, cause to start wordnet
  5. 5
    begin to speak or say wordnet
Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language wordnet
  2. 7
    achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative wordnet
  3. 8
    begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object wordnet
  4. 9
    have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense wordnet
  5. 10
    have a beginning characterized in some specified way wordnet
  6. 11
    have a beginning, of a temporal event wordnet
  7. 12
    be the first item or point, constitute the beginning or start, come first in a series wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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.

See also for "begin"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: begin