What does "beginning" mean?
The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states.
Beginning
/bᵻˈɡɪn.ɪŋ/ adj, noun, verb, slang
adj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states.
- Grammar: beginning is listed as adj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: commencement, initiation, launch, onset.
- Useful contrasts: concluding paragraph, final action, final conclusion.
- Usage evidence: When you're beginning to look like the photo in your passport, you should go on a holiday.
How to use "beginning"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "beginning" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "beginning" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "beginning" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "beginning" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "beginning" is acting as adj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "commencement" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "beginning", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states. uncountable
- 2 the act of starting something wordnet
- 3 That which is begun; a rudiment or element. countable, uncountable
- 4 the first part or section of something wordnet
- 5 That which begins or originates something; the source or first cause. countable, uncountable
"What was the beginning of the dispute?"
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 the event consisting of the start of something wordnet
- 7 The initial portion of some extended thing. countable, uncountable
"The author describes the main character’s youth at the beginning of the story."
- 8 the place where something begins, where it springs into being wordnet
- 9 the time at which something is supposed to begin wordnet
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of begin form-of, gerund, participle, present
"He is beginning to read a new book."
Adjective
- 1 Being the first portion of some extended thing. informal, not-comparable
"in the beginning paragraph of the chapter"
Adjective
- 1 serving to begin wordnet
Antonyms
concluding paragraphfinal actionfinal conclusionfinal movement
Example
"When you're beginning to look like the photo in your passport, you should go on a holiday."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "beginning"?
Common synonyms include: commencement, initiation, launch, onset, origin, start.
How do you use "beginning" in a sentence?
When you're beginning to look like the photo in your passport, you should go on a holiday.
How do you pronounce "beginning"?
Pronounced /bᵻˈɡɪn.ɪŋ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English biginning, beginninge, beginnunge, equivalent to begin + -ing.
Etymology 2
From Middle English begynnyng, bygynnynge, From Old English *beginnende (attested only as Old English onginnende), from Proto-Germanic *biginnandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *biginnaną (“to begin”), equivalent to begin + -ing.