English dictionary



Hint: With the Firefox addon you can search this dictionary from the browsers search field.

English noun: Begin

1. Begin (person) Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)


SynonymsMenachem Begin


Instance hypernymnational leader, solon, statesman


English verb: begin

1. begin (change) take the first step or steps in carrying out an action


SamplesWe began working at dawn.
Who will start?.
Get working as soon as the sun rises!.
The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia.
He began early in the day.
Let's get down to work now.


ExamplesThey begin to move , They begin moving


Synonymscommence, get, get down, set about, set out, start, start out


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE.
Somebody ----s VERB-ing


Narrower (hyponym)attack, auspicate, bestir oneself, break in, come on, embark, enter, fall, get cracking, get going, get moving, get rolling, get started, get to, get weaving, jump off, launch, plunge, recommence, strike out


Verb groupbegin


Antonymsterminate, end

2. begin (stative) have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense


SamplesThe DMZ begins right over the hill.
The second movement begins after the Allegro.
Prices for these homes start at $250,000.


Synonymsstart


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Something is ----ing PP.
Something ----s something


Narrower (hyponym)break out, break out, bud, dawn, erupt, kick in, originate, set in


Verb groupbegin, begin, start


Antonymsend, cease, terminate, finish, stop

3. begin (change) set in motion, cause to start


SamplesThe U.S. started a war in the Middle East.
The Iraqis began hostilities.
Begin a new chapter in your life.


Synonymscommence, lead off, start


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Narrower (hyponym)commence, embark on, inaugurate, introduce, jump-start, jumpstart, recommence, set off, start, start up, usher in


Causebegin, start


Verb groupbegin


Antonymsterminate, end

4. begin (communication) begin to speak or say


SamplesNow listen, friends,.


ExamplesThey won't begin the story


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)mouth, speak, talk, utter, verbalise, verbalize

5. begin (stative) be the first item or point, constitute the beginning or start, come first in a series


SamplesThe number `one' begins the sequence.
A terrible murder begins the novel.
The convocation ceremony officially begins the semester.


Pattern of useSomething ----s something


Verb groupbegin, start

6. begin (stative) have a beginning, of a temporal event


SamplesWW II began in 1939 when Hitler marched into Poland.
The company's Asia tour begins next month.


Pattern of useSomething is ----ing PP


Broader (hypernym)be


Verb groupbegin, begin, commence, lead off, start, start

7. begin (stative) have a beginning characterized in some specified way


SamplesThe novel begins with a murder.
My property begins with the three maple trees.
Her day begins with a workout.
The semester begins with a convocation ceremony.


Synonymsstart


Pattern of useSomething is ----ing PP


Broader (hypernym)be


Verb groupbegin, begin, begin, start, start

8. begin (social) begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object


SamplesBegin a cigar.
She started the soup while it was still hot.
We started physics in 10th grade.


Synonymsstart


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)act, move


Verb groupbegin, start

9. begin (social) achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative


SamplesThis economic measure doesn't even begin to deal with the problem of inflation.
You cannot even begin to understand the problem we had to deal with during the war.


Pattern of useSomething ----s something


Broader (hypernym)accomplish, achieve, attain, reach

10. begin (communication) begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language


SamplesShe began Russian at an early age.
We started French in fourth grade.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Verb groupbegin, commence, get, get down, set about, set out, start, start out









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
Web design: Orcapia v/Per Bang. English edition: .
2024 onlineordbog.dk