begin
A1 (most frequent 1000 words)Neutral - used across all registers from formal to informal
Definition
Meaning
To start doing something; to take the first step in a process.
To come into existence; to have its origin; to start speaking; to have a particular quality or characteristic at the start.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Regular verb (begin-began-begun); can be used both transitively and intransitively; often followed by 'to' + infinitive or gerund with subtle meaning differences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use identically. No spelling variations. Slight preference in British English for 'begin' over 'start' in formal writing compared to American English.
Connotations
Slightly more formal than 'start' in both varieties, but British English maintains this formality distinction more strongly.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties. American English shows slightly higher use of 'start' as an alternative in informal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
begin to do somethingbegin doing somethingbegin with somethingbegin at [time]begin by doing somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Begin at the beginning”
- “Begin with a clean slate”
- “Begin to see the light”
- “Charity begins at home”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in project management contexts: 'The initiative will begin Q3.' Formal reporting: 'We began implementation in January.'
Academic
Common in introductions: 'This paper begins by examining...' Historical analysis: 'The movement began in the early 20th century.'
Everyday
Daily activities: 'I begin work at 9.' Social situations: 'Let's begin with introductions.'
Technical
Process descriptions: 'The program begins initialization.' Scientific procedures: 'The reaction begins immediately upon mixing.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The meeting will begin at half two.
- She began to feel unwell during the journey.
- I began learning French last autumn.
American English
- The meeting will begin at two thirty.
- She began to feel sick during the trip.
- I started learning French last fall.
adverb
British English
- Beginning tomorrow, we'll have new hours.
- He spoke beginning softly but growing louder.
- The book is arranged beginning with chapter one.
American English
- Starting tomorrow, we'll have new hours.
- He spoke starting softly but getting louder.
- The book is arranged starting with chapter one.
adjective
British English
- The beginner's class starts next week.
- His beginning salary was quite reasonable.
- We need beginning-level materials.
American English
- The beginner class starts next week.
- His starting salary was quite reasonable.
- We need entry-level materials.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- School begins at nine o'clock.
- I begin work every day at eight.
- When does the film begin?
- She began to understand the problem after the explanation.
- The concert begins with a classical piece.
- They began building the house last month.
- Having begun the research, we now face numerous methodological challenges.
- The company began by producing small household items before expanding.
- It began to dawn on him that he had made a serious error.
- The negotiations, having begun promisingly, soon deteriorated into mutual recrimination.
- His speech began with a provocative thesis that immediately engaged the audience.
- The phenomenon can be said to begin with the industrial revolution, though antecedents exist.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BE at the GIN (bar) - you BEGIN your evening there.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOURNEY (beginning as starting point), CONSTRUCTION (beginning as foundation), PROCESS (beginning as first stage)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of Russian aspectual pairs - 'begin' covers both начать and начинать contexts
- Don't confuse with 'become' (становиться)
- Russian often uses perfective verbs where English uses 'begin' + infinitive
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'beginned' instead of 'began'
- Wrong preposition: 'begin from' instead of 'begin with/at'
- Overuse of continuous form: 'is beginning' when simple present is sufficient
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'begin' incorrectly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Begin' is slightly more formal and often preferred in written English. 'Start' has additional meanings related to machines (start a car) and is more common in informal speech. In most contexts they're interchangeable.
Both are correct with subtle differences. 'Begin to do' emphasizes the start of an action. 'Begin doing' suggests the action itself. With verbs of feeling or thinking (understand, know, realize), 'begin to' is more natural. For deliberate actions, both work.
Yes: begin (present), began (past simple), begun (past participle). Common mistake: using 'beginned' instead of 'began'.
Yes, but sparingly. 'I'm beginning to understand' emphasizes the ongoing process of starting. Simple tenses are usually sufficient: 'The class begins now' not 'The class is beginning now' unless emphasizing gradual start.
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Routine
A1 · 50 words · Words for describing your everyday activities and schedule.
Daily Verbs
A1 · 50 words · Essential action words used in everyday conversation.