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begin
/bɪˈɡɪn/
to start or commence something
The meeting will begin at 9 AM sharp.
The meeting will start at 9 AM sharp.
general
to start or commence an action or process
She began her journey to Europe last summer.
She started her journey to Europe last summer.
The rain began to fall as we left the house.
The rain started to fall as we left the house.
Often used with 'to' or 'with' to specify the starting point.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Collocations
Remember common collocations like 'begin with' and 'begin to' to sound more natural.
Gold Rule
Transitive and Intransitive Use
'Begin' can be used both transitively (begin a task) and intransitively (begin to rain).
Word Origin
From Middle English 'biginnen', from Old English 'beginnan', from Proto-Germanic 'biginnanan' (to begin). Related to Old Norse 'byrja' and Old High German 'beginnan'.
Usage Notes
Can be used in both transitive and intransitive forms. Often followed by 'to' or 'with' to specify the starting point.
Word Breakdown
begin
to start
rootEnglish Dictionary