begin
begin — verb
1. to first appear or start taking place
to first appear or start taking place
The concert began at seven after the crowd filled the hall.
something begins at [time]
A small fire began in the kitchen while Mira washed dishes.
Winter began early in the mountain village that year.
collocation: begin early
The trouble began when two boys kicked a ball indoors.
A new friendship began during the school trip to Tainan.
- begin at seven
- begin early
- begin suddenly
- begin when ...
- trouble begins
Grammar Patterns
something begins
something begins at [time]
something begins when ...
Usage Note
Used for events, periods, feelings, relationships, and other things that come into being. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about something starting to exist or happen, not about a person starting an action.
Common Mistakes
2. to start an action, task, or project
to start an action, task, or project
Noah began to read the letter on the bus home.
begin to + verb
After lunch, the team began building the stage for the play.
begin + -ing form
I began my homework while my sister set the table.
begin + noun
The nurse began checking patients before the doctor arrived.
Leo saved money and began a repair business in his garage.
- begin to read
- begin building
- begin homework
- begin work
- begin a project
Grammar Patterns
begin to do something
begin doing something
begin something
Usage Note
Common with both to + verb and the -ing form, especially in speech and writing. It can also take a direct object when you mean starting a task, project, business, or other planned activity.
Common Mistakes
3. to say your first words after being silent
to say your first words after being silent
After the bell rang, Ms. Wu began, 'Please open your books.'
begin + direct speech
After a long pause, Daniel began, 'I need to tell the truth.'
begin in a ... voice
The child began to answer, then stopped when the phone rang.
At last, Nora began her story about the lost dog.
When the camera turned on, the mayor began with a joke.
- begin, '...'
- begin in a quiet voice
- begin a story
- begin with a joke
- begin to answer
- stop
describes ending the speech or remarks
- fall silent
describes becoming quiet instead of starting to speak
Grammar Patterns
someone begins, '...'
begin in a ... voice
Usage Note
Often used when introducing direct speech, a speech, a story, or first remarks. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is about starting any activity, while this sense focuses on opening your speech or speaking turn.
Common Mistakes
4. to have a particular thing as the opening part
to have a particular thing as the opening part
The lesson begins with a song about animals.
begin with + first part
Her email began with an apology to the whole team.
The movie begins with children running across a windy beach.
This list begins with your passport and train ticket.
The book begins with a photo of the old shop.
collocation: begins with a photo
- begin with a song
- begin with an apology
- begin with a photo
- begin with a question
- begin with the first item
- start with
the everyday equivalent
- open with
common for books, films, speeches, or performances
- lead with
often suggests choosing something as the opening move
- end with
describes the final part instead of the first part
Grammar Patterns
something begins with something
Usage Note
Usually followed by with and names the first scene, sentence, item, or activity inside something. Distinguish from sense 5, which gives the point, place, time, or number where something starts.
Common Mistakes
5. to start from a particular place, time, number, or level
to start from a particular place, time, number, or level
The road begins at the bridge near the post office.
begin at + place
Summer vacation begins in July at this school.
begin in + month
Ticket prices begin at three hundred dollars for children.
begin at + number
The walking tour begins at the market square each morning.
Page numbers begin at one after the photo section.
- begin at the bridge
- begin in July
- begin at three hundred dollars
- begin from the market square
- begin at one
- start at
the most direct everyday pattern for a point or level
- start from
common when the starting point is a place or lower limit
- run from
used for ranges, especially times, pages, or numbers
Grammar Patterns
something begins at [point]
something begins in [time]
something begins from [place]
Usage Note
Often followed by at, in, or from with places, times, prices, and numbers. Distinguish from sense 4: this sense tells you where or when the starting point is, not what comes first.
Common Mistakes
You should first take care of your own family and close friends before helping others.
Maya always donates to local shelters because she believes charity begins at home.
Before volunteering abroad, remember that charity begins at home and help your neighbors.
to begin with
idiomUsed to talk about the first part of a situation or the first reason for something.
To begin with, we had no electricity in the new house.
Why was the trip bad? To begin with, our flight was delayed for hours.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/2
For sense 2, begin and start are very close, and in many daily situations either one works. Start is usually a little more natural in casual speech, while begin can sound slightly more careful or written. Commence is much more formal and is common in notices, ceremonies, and official language, as in a class commencing at nine. Launch is different because it often suggests starting something new in a planned, public, or business-like way, such as launching a project or a product. So you begin your homework, start cooking dinner, commence the ceremony, and launch a new website.
Etymology
Begin comes from Old English beginnan. It is an old Germanic verb related to the idea of starting or undertaking something, and it has kept both the everyday meaning of starting an action and the wider use for things that start, appear, or take shape.