beginning
beginning — noun
1. the place, time, or part where something starts to happen
the place, time, or part where something starts to happen
At the beginning of class, Ms. Lin checked our homework.
pattern: at the beginning of something
The film is funny from the beginning, not just at the end.
phrase: from the beginning
In the beginning, the street was quiet and almost empty.
phrase: in the beginning
We missed the beginning of the game because the bus was late.
The book explains the rules clearly at the beginning.
- at the beginning
- from the beginning
- the beginning of class
- the beginning of the game
Grammar Patterns
at the beginning of something
from the beginning
in the beginning
Usage Note
Usually appears with the, especially in patterns such as at the beginning of and from the beginning. Distinguish from noun/2, which focuses on early signs or stages, and noun/3, which asks where something came from.
Common Mistakes
2. the first small signs or undeveloped stage of something that may grow later
the first small signs or undeveloped stage of something that may grow later
Doctors saw the beginnings of an infection around Leo's cut.
often plural: the beginnings of something
The garden showed the beginnings of spring after two warm days.
By June, the team had the beginnings of a strong defense.
pattern: have the beginnings of
Her notebook contains the beginnings of a story about Taipei.
The town was still in its beginnings when my grandfather arrived.
pattern: in its beginnings
- the beginnings of an idea
- the beginnings of spring
- the beginnings of a story
- in its beginnings
- early stages
a plain phrase that stresses incomplete development
- first signs
focuses more on visible evidence than on a stage of growth
- rudiments
more formal and often used for basic first forms
- maturity
a fully developed state
- completion
the finished stage
Grammar Patterns
the beginnings of something
in its beginnings
Usage Note
Often plural in the beginnings of when you talk about early signs, plans, or forms that are not complete yet. Distinguish from noun/3 ORIGIN, which focuses on source rather than development.
3. the place, time, cause, or way from which something first came
the place, time, cause, or way from which something first came
Historians traced the beginnings of jazz to New Orleans clubs.
pattern: trace the beginnings of something
This map shows the beginnings of the village beside the river.
Researchers studied the beginnings of the language in mountain communities.
The museum exhibit explains the humble beginnings of the airline.
collocation: humble beginnings
Her interest in medicine had its beginnings in childhood visits.
pattern: have its beginnings in
- humble beginnings
- trace the beginnings of
- the beginnings of jazz
- have its beginnings in
Grammar Patterns
the beginnings of something
trace the beginnings of something
Usage Note
Often used when asking where an idea, group, language, or tradition came from. Common patterns are humble beginnings and have its beginnings in.
The first clear sign that something is about to finish or fail.
The company's loss of its biggest client was the beginning of the end.
Did the argument mark the beginning of the end for their friendship?
beginning — adjective
1. used for people or activities that have only recently started
used for people or activities that have only recently started
The library keeps short novels for beginning readers near the door.
pattern: for beginning readers
Mr. Wu teaches simple guitar songs to beginning students.
collocation: beginning students
The website offers safe drills for beginning runners at home.
Rita joined a weekend group for beginning painters in Tainan.
This workbook gives extra practice to beginning English learners.
- beginning readers
- beginning students
- beginning runners
- beginning painters
- advanced
used for people or material at a higher level
- experienced
stresses past practice and knowledge
Grammar Patterns
beginning students
for beginning readers
a beginning writer
Usage Note
Usually comes before a noun and often describes learners, users, or people new to a skill. Distinguish from adjective/3, which describes the course, book, or lesson rather than the person.
Common Mistakes
2. coming at the front of something and forming its first section
coming at the front of something and forming its first section
The beginning pages of the manual list every safety rule.
pattern: the beginning pages of something
Our teacher reread the beginning chapter before the final discussion.
collocation: beginning chapter
The beginning scene shows the market before the fire.
Please review the beginning section again before you sign the form.
The beginning notes were quiet, so half the hall missed them.
- beginning pages
- beginning chapter
- beginning section
- beginning scene
Grammar Patterns
the beginning pages
the beginning chapters
the beginning section
Usage Note
This sense marks position in a sequence. Distinguish from adjective/3 INTRODUCTORY, which stresses purpose rather than simple position.
3. made to give basic first information before more detailed study
made to give basic first information before more detailed study
The college offers a beginning course in Japanese every fall.
pattern: a beginning course in a subject
Our club prepared beginning lessons for children new to chess.
collocation: beginning lessons
The website posts beginning material for first-time bird watchers.
Mia bought a beginning textbook before her night class started.
The museum scheduled a beginning workshop on family history research.
- beginning course
- beginning lessons
- beginning textbook
- beginning material
- introductory
the nearest formal equivalent
- elementary
stresses very basic content rather than the first step alone
- basic
broader and less tied to the idea of starting a course
- advanced
meant for higher-level study
- specialized
focuses on a narrow or deeper area
Grammar Patterns
a beginning course
beginning lessons
beginning material
Usage Note
Common with course, class, lesson, textbook, or material. Distinguish from adjective/1 JUST STARTING, which usually describes the learner, not the teaching resource.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
For noun/1, beginning is a broad everyday word for the point or first part where something starts. Start is even more common and often sounds slightly more direct, especially in speech. Opening is useful when you mean the first section of a film, speech, book, or event, so it often carries a structural sense. Outset is more formal and appears mainly in set phrases such as at the outset. Use beginning when you want a natural general word that works for time, place, or part of an event. You can say We missed the beginning of the game, but in a report you might write From the outset, the plan faced problems.
Common collocations
Prepositions
Etymology
Beginning comes from the verb begin plus the ending -ing. Begin goes back to Old English beginnan, a very old Germanic verb for starting something or coming into a new stage. Over time, beginning became both a noun for the start of something and an adjective for what is at an early or introductory stage.