1
as in to commence
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
she began walking to work for exercise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to start
to come into existence
the storm began late in the day and lasted all night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of
the religious sect was begun by a small breakaway faction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of begin
That journey begins Tuesday when Florida begins its opening-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena (8:30 p.m., ESPN/Scripps Sports).
—
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
According to The Knot’s 2025 Real Weddings Study, a whopping 57% of couples begin discussing engagement over a year before a proposal and a mere 2% never discussed it.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 20 Apr. 2025
Earlier this month, the Administration began the process of cancelling the Social Security numbers of immigrants who were in the country lawfully.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025
The European Union has begun to issue its U.S.-bound officials burner phones, for fear of surveillance, the Financial Times reported.
—Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for begin
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
According to The Knot’s 2025 Real Weddings Study, a whopping 57% of couples begin discussing engagement over a year before a proposal and a mere 2% never discussed it.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 20 Apr. 2025
Earlier this month, the Administration began the process of cancelling the Social Security numbers of immigrants who were in the country lawfully.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025
The European Union has begun to issue its U.S.-bound officials burner phones, for fear of surveillance, the Financial Times reported.
—Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for begin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for begin
Verb
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Around the same time, the company commenced an aggressive play for the college sports insurance market, introducing a novel contract protection product for NIL collectives while also trying to get into the critical injury coverage niche.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Production on the second season of Nobody Wants This commenced in March 2025.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Bobby manages to save Chimney, who falls ill and starts coughing up blood while responding to the lab blaze.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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Vásquez has chosen the brown tops in two of his three road starts and lost both.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Coogler established himself, with Creed and his two Black Panthermovies, as a filmmaker with propulsive, novel takes on franchise fare.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
18 Apr. 2025
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The Smithsonian Institution was first established by Congress with funding from British scientist James Smithson.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Patterson is set to enter the transfer portal when the second cycle opens on Wednesday.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2025
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The first night of the run hadn’t quite coalesced—the portal didn’t open.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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With approximately 77% of U.S. toy imports originating from China, coupling Hunyuan 3D with consumer-grade 3D printers offers a potential workaround for American buyers, highlighting how technology firms can creatively bypass political constraints to deliver value globally.—
Vivian Toh,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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The criminal gang originated in a Venezuela prison and has slowly spread both north and south in recent years.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The recall, initiated by Blooming Import Inc. in Brooklyn, New York, affects 74 cases of Golden Crop Candy, which included the dyes Blue 1, Red 40 and Acid Red 18, which were not listed on the product label.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Businesses are wary of making those investments, citing uncertainty in operating conditions initiated by Trump’s tariff push, which has been rolled out in fits and starts.—
Tobias Burns,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Montgomery County Public Schools, where the issue being contested arose, did not reply to TIME’s request for comment.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
22 Apr. 2025
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The other is informal, arising from civil society, in which gangs, strongmen, vigilante groups, neighborhood watches, and political and religious organizations enforce norms, frequently through violence.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Agrigento was founded in 580 B.C. as the largest Greek colony in Sicily.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Trump’s attempt to undermine Harvard’s independence is probably the biggest shock the university has faced since Harvard College was founded, in 1636; shortly after its establishment, the school received a transformative deathbed bequest from the Puritan John Harvard.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Begin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begin. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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