Begin Began I Start Bɪˈɡɪn Beginning Make Verb

• shall i begin?
• let's begin at page 9.
• i'd like to begin with a simple question.
• she began by thanking us all for coming.

begin

Verb Forms

1. to start doing something; to do the first part of something
• Shall I begin?
• Let's begin at page 9.
• I'd like to begin with a simple question.
• She began by thanking us all for coming.
• We began work on the project in May.
• I began (= started reading) this novel last month and I still haven't finished it.
• He always begins his lessons with a warm-up exercise.
• I began piano lessons at the age of six.
• She began her speech by praising her opponent.
• He began his political career as a student (= when he was a student).
• I began to feel dizzy.
• Leaves are just beginning to appear.
• We have already begun to address the problem.
• I was beginning to think you'd never come.
• Everyone began talking at once.
• We began working on the project in May.

Extra Examples

• We had to begin all over again.
• He took a deep breath and slowly began.
• We will begin with a brief discussion of the problems.
• Let's begin by writing down a few ideas.
• Begin your story at the beginning, and carry on to the end.
• At last the guests began to arrive.
• It was beginning to snow.
• She began to cry.
• When will you begin recruiting?
2. to start to happen or exist, especially from a particular time
• When does the concert begin?
• Work on the new bridge is due to begin in September.
• The lecture begins at 8pm.
• The evening began well.

Extra Examples

• The entertainment was due to begin at 8.30.
• Once it has finished, the DVD automatically begins again.
• Their troubles are only beginning.
• Research into the problem began immediately.
3. to have something as the first part or the point where something starts
• Where does Europe end and Asia begin?
• Use ‘an’ before words beginning with a vowel.
• ‘I'm thinking of a country in Asia.’ ‘What does it begin with (= what is the first letter)?’
• Each chapter begins with a quotation.
• The path begins at Livingston village.
• The story begins on the island of Corfu.
4. to start or make something start for the first time
• The school began in 1920, with only ten pupils.
• He began a new magazine on post-war architecture.
5. to be something first, before becoming something else
• He began as an actor, before starting to direct films.
• What began as a minor scuffle turned into a full-scale riot.
6. to start speaking
• ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he began, ‘welcome to the Town Hall.’
7. to make no attempt to do something or have no chance of doing something
• I can't begin to thank you enough.
• He didn't even begin to understand my problem.
8. you should help and care for your own family, etc. before you start helping other people
9. at first
• I found it tiring to begin with but I soon got used to it.
• We'll go slowly to begin with.
10. used to introduce the first point you want to make
• ‘What was it you didn't like?’ ‘Well, to begin with, our room was far too small.’

Word Origin

• Old English beginnan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German beginnen.