1
as in commenced
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
she began walking to work for exercise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in started
to come into existence
the storm began late in the day and lasted all night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in founded
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of
the religious sect was begun by a small breakaway faction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of began
That marked the first such departure order issued by Washington in Saudi Arabia since the war began.
—
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2026
His win in Istanbul in 2019 represented a crushing blow to Erdogan, whose own political ascent began as the city’s mayor.
—Beril Akman, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Police separated the two groups, but tensions began to escalate shortly before noon.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
All five — whether at UCLA or somewhere else — began at the Pac-12.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Owners David, a pharmacist, and Ryan, a counselor, began restoring historic homes out of personal passion before turning their knack for curation into a hospitality venture.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026
Last week, the White House began circulating draft legislative language on such a ban.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2026
Many people began to dance with joy.
—Paul Burton, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
The races began at Ultima Basecamp, Antarctica, before continuing to Cape Town, South Africa, then Perth, Australia.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2026
His win in Istanbul in 2019 represented a crushing blow to Erdogan, whose own political ascent began as the city’s mayor.
—Beril Akman, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Police separated the two groups, but tensions began to escalate shortly before noon.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
All five — whether at UCLA or somewhere else — began at the Pac-12.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Owners David, a pharmacist, and Ryan, a counselor, began restoring historic homes out of personal passion before turning their knack for curation into a hospitality venture.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026
Last week, the White House began circulating draft legislative language on such a ban.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2026
Many people began to dance with joy.
—Paul Burton, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
The races began at Ultima Basecamp, Antarctica, before continuing to Cape Town, South Africa, then Perth, Australia.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for began
Verb
-
The team’s 2026 model car wasn’t in its wind tunnel until mid-April last year, when other teams had commenced such testing in January 2025.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Gates tells Outdoor Life that Miller’s citizen petition was introduced to the CPW Commission in June, just a day before a furbearer working group commenced to provide recommendations on furbearer harvest.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Oil prices have surged above $100 a barrel after more major Middle East countries started reducing production, as storage fills up due to the closure of Hormuz.—
Louise Moon,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The shows, once Nick and I started going to them that fall, were something different entirely.—
Andrew Martin,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Beyond, founded in 2009 and known primarily for its pea-protein burger patties and steaks, has had some turbulent times recently.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The 53-year-old Japanese designer, who founded cult label Number (N)ine in 1997, is relaunching the brand 15 years after stepping away from it.—
Ashley Ogawa Clarke,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Impala Platinum has opened formal talks with Zimbabwe’s central bank and lined up meetings with both the South African and Zimbabwean governments to press for clarity on Harare’s export-earnings policy, its CEO told Semafor, escalating a commercial cash-flow dispute into bilateral negotiations.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The 28-year-old California native faces growing as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have opened a commanding gap atop the tennis world.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gorman Wettels originated the project through her company Joy Coalition, packaging the project with Eilish and Polley and partnering with Plan B and StudioCanal ahead of Focus boarding.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Last week, Iran’s president had claimed Tehran would stop striking its neighbors unless any attacks on Iran originated from those countries.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The run here established Fritz as the de facto face of American men’s tennis and elevated him to more elite echelons in the sport.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Our goal is also always to bring together established and emerging voices, challenging the conventional formats.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The husband-wife duo previously launched Under Canvas, the largest glamping company in the US.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Less than three days after Enoch Godongwana presented the budget to lawmakers in the fuel-importing nation, the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The scandal arose as early voting began in Texas, with Gonzales vying for the Republican candidacy for his district in the primaries.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Mar. 2026
-
If the matter-antimatter asymmetry arose due to a breaking of a certain cosmic symmetry at a higher energy, then restoring the symmetry could lead to that symmetry re-breaking in a different fashion.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Began.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/began. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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