begin
//bɪˈɡɪn//
Forms
- present (v1)
- begin
- past (v2)
- began
- past participle (v3)
- begun
- present participle
- beginning
- 3rd person singular
- begins
Definitions
1.To start, to initiate or take the first step into something.
- The program begins at 9 o’clock on the dot.
- I began playing the piano at the age of five.
- Now that everyone is here, we should begin the presentation.
2.To come into existence.
- Vast chain of being! which from God began.
Frequency
Overall
Very common· #232
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Common
- General reading & writing
- Very common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Common
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English beginnen
From Old English beginnan (“to begin”)
From Proto-West Germanic *biginnan
From Proto-Germanic *biginnaną (“to begin”)
From be- + base verb *ginnaną also found in Old English onginnan.