Definition of Begin

1. Noun. 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).

Exact synonyms: Menachem Begin
Generic synonyms: National Leader, Solon, Statesman

2. Verb. Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action. "They begin moving "; "Let's get down to work now"

3. Verb. Have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense. "Prices for these homes start at $250,000"
Exact synonyms: Start
Specialized synonyms: Break Out, Erupt, Bud, Break Out, Kick In, Set In, Dawn, Originate
Related verbs: Start
Antonyms: End
Derivative terms: Start, Start, Start

4. Verb. Set in motion, cause to start. "Begin a new chapter in your life"

5. Verb. Begin to speak or say. "They won't begin the story "; "Now listen, friends,"
Generic synonyms: Mouth, Speak, Talk, Utter, Verbalise, Verbalize

6. Verb. Be the first item or point, constitute the beginning or start, come first in a series. "The convocation ceremony officially begins the semester"
Related verbs: Start
Derivative terms: Beginning

7. Verb. Have a beginning, of a temporal event. "The company's Asia tour begins next month"
Related verbs: Commence, Lead Off, Start, Start
Generic synonyms: Be

8. Verb. Have a beginning characterized in some specified way. "The semester begins with a convocation ceremony"
Exact synonyms: Start
Related verbs: Start, Start
Generic synonyms: Be
Derivative terms: Start, Start

9. Verb. Begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object. "We started physics in 10th grade"
Exact synonyms: Start
Generic synonyms: Act, Move
Related verbs: Start
Derivative terms: Start, Start

10. Verb. Achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative. "You cannot even begin to understand the problem we had to deal with during the war"
Generic synonyms: Accomplish, Achieve, Attain, Reach

11. Verb. Begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language. "We started French in fourth grade"

Definition of Begin

1. v. i. To have or commence an independent or first existence; to take rise; to commence.

2. v. t. To enter on; to commence.

3. n. Beginning.

Definition of Begin

1. Verb. (ambitransitive) To start, to initiate or take the first step into something. ¹

2. Noun. (nonstandard) beginning; start ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Begin

1. to start [v -GAN, -GUN, -GINNING, -GINS] - See also: start

Lexicographical Neighbors of Begin

beggingness
beggings
beghard
beghards
beghast
beghost
begift
begifted
begifting
begifts
begild
begilded
begilding
begilds
begilt
begin (current term)
begink
beginne
beginner
beginners
beginnes
beginneth
beginning
beginning(a)
beginning of day
beginning rhyme
beginningless
beginnings
begins
begird

Literary usage of Begin

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (1860)
"They then begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly, ... Then they begin to adhere to, and associate themselves with, carnal, loose, ..."

2. The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, Henry Dale, Thomas Arnold (1873)
"So ho granted them a truce for tho number of days within which it was likely they would return home, and in the mean timo did not begin to ravage the land. ..."

3. College Greek Course in English by William Cleaver Wilkinson (1888)
"begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song. The voice of Thyrsis. /Etna's Thyrsis L Where were ye, Nymphs, O where, while Daphnis pined ? ..."

4. The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain (2001)
"THE PRINCE'S TROUBLES begin. AFTER hours of persistent pursuit and persecution, the little prince was at last deserted by the rabble and left to himself. ..."

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