began

verb

past tense of begin
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of began The death in a helicopter crash of Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, his wife and three others has reverberated across government and industry circles on the continent, as investigators began examining what caused the aircraft to go down. — Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026 When Tian’s solo project began gaining traction, Cui was pursuing a master’s in computer science and machine learning at the University of Toronto and working on autonomous-vehicle research. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 There was a period where airspace was closed in the Gulf after the Iran conflict began, and then questions about whether the region’s growth story would be interrupted. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Rodriquez said her daughter began facing bullying and body image issues, using filters on the apps to alter her face. — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026 The principal actors came onboard, and the $45 million production began that July and had wrapped by September 2025. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026 However, after Urbagestion acquired the property and took over its management, Abascal began renting from the private landlord in 2018, according to El País. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 Carlos Rodón began the season on the IL after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur and loose bodies and didn’t debut until May 10. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Kasirye said her passion for public health began during her medical training in Uganda. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for began
  1. commenced
  2. started
  3. founded
  4. opened
  5. originated
  6. established
  7. launched
  8. arose
Verb
  • The mountain, known to the Indigenous inhabitants of the region as the Six Grandfathers, was considered sacred, and construction commenced over the vehement objections of Native Americans.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Circle has commenced a search for its next CFO with the assistance of an executive search firm.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of commenced
Verb
  • The father-daughter pair embraced as Verlander started to cry, and the crowd quickly rose to their feet for a standing ovation.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The Tigers started drives by trying to get QB Austin Simmons going, but often fell behind the sticks with minimal gains or no gains on first and second down.
    — PJ Green September 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of started
Verb
  • BlackRock, Carhartt, Ford and Google founded the Alliance in July — the same four companies represented on the panel.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The site is situated on the island of Lismore and is believed to have been founded by Saint Mo Luóc, an early Christian saint also known as Moluag.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of founded
Verb
  • In June, the group opened a series of arena dates ahead of Turnpike Troubadours and Muscadine Bloodline.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Sayegh, who owns the five-screen cinema in Cranford, near to New York City, will mark the centennial with a throwback screening of Padlocked, the silent film that opened the theater’s doors on November 29, 1926, with an accompanying organ player.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of opened
Verb
  • Residential credit can be a durable asset class when it is originated, underwritten and actively managed by specialists.
    — Wesley Carpenter, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • According to research company Omdia, the format, which first originated in China, generated global revenues of $11 billion last year and is expected to hit $14 billion by the end of 2026, with Latin America emerging as a major market.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of originated
Verb
  • NFTs—unique, transferable records on a blockchain, often linked through metadata to a digital image, animation, or piece of code—were established as stand-alone value units on Ethereum in 2018 and subsequently traded as digital art.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The service The warm welcome, exacting attention to detail, and discreet ubiquity of the Raffles butlers more than live up to the high expectation Raffles has established as a brand.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of established
Verb
  • The country singer, 36, recently launched EDITED by Maren Morris, a new apparel collection created in partnership with Sam’s Club and Sunrise Brands.
    — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026
  • This Muse, the personal AI agent launched earlier this month, came out of nowhere.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of launched
Verb
  • The case arose because Colorado’s new Universal Preschool Program only provides funding to preschools that agree to abide by a nondiscrimination policy.
    — Mark Satta, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The filing, made in April but posted online Monday, comes after questions arose earlier this year about the nature of Kristi Noem’s relationship with a top advisor.
    — Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of arose

Browse Nearby Words

beg
began
beget
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Cite this Entry

“Began.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/began. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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