beginner

beginner — noun

1. someone who has only just started learning a skill or doing an activity and stil

1.nounA2
Definition

someone who has only just started learning a skill or doing an activity and still needs the easiest lessons.

Example

Mika is still a beginner, so the coach keeps her in the shallow pool.

be a beginner

The ski school gives beginners bright orange vests on the first morning.

beginners in class context

Common collocations
  • absolute beginner
  • complete beginner
  • beginner class
  • beginner course
  • for beginners
Synonyms
  • novice

    slightly more formal, often used in training or sport

  • learner

    broader; a learner may be a beginner or may already know quite a lot

  • newcomer

    focuses on recently joining a field or group, not only on low skill

Antonyms
  • expert

    someone with a very high level of knowledge or skill

  • advanced learner

    someone who has already moved well beyond the first lessons

Grammar Patterns

a beginner at + activity

a beginner in + subject

for beginners

Usage Note

Common after at for activities, as in a beginner at skiing, and after in for school subjects or fields, as in a beginner in French. Also frequent in labels such as beginner class, beginner course, and for beginners.

Common Mistakes

I am beginner at tennis.
I am a beginner at tennis.
beginner is a singular count noun, so it needs a or an.
This book is good to beginners.
This book is good for beginners.
use for beginners when something suits people at an early stage.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For this sense, beginner is the most common everyday word for someone at the first stage of an activity or skill. Novice is close, but it sounds slightly more formal and is often used in training, sport, or religious settings. Learner is broader: it simply means someone who is learning, so a learner may still be a beginner or may already have some experience. Newcomer focuses on recently joining a group, place, or field, not necessarily on low skill. So a beginner guitarist needs the first lessons, while a newcomer to a music club may already play well. Say This class is for beginners for level, but The company welcomes newcomers for new members.

beginner ↗novice ↗learner ↗newcomer ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • beginner class
  • beginner course
  • beginner level
  • beginner guitar book

Phrases

  • for beginners
  • a complete beginner
  • an absolute beginner
  • suitable for beginners

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Beginner was formed in English from the verb begin and the suffix -er, which is often used for a person who does something. It first meant a person who begins, and in modern everyday English it usually means someone at the early stage of learning a skill or activity.