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
Sochan began the year with the San Antonio Spurs, the franchise that selected him in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
—
Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
One of the earliest programs for continuing education came from Harvard University, who began the Harvard Extension School in 1835 in what was then called the Lowell Institute.
—Bryan Penprase, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
New data from Moody's Analytics shows the typical household has now spent an extra nearly $450 on fuel expenses since the war began.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
Born in 1926 in Pittsburgh, Negri began performing on the radio at just 3 years old.
—Kristine Sorensen, CBS News, 31 May 2026
The fire authority’s hazardous materials response team began dousing the tanks at a Garden Grove facility Thursday, prompting an initial evacuation order that was lifted later that day.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In addition to Jake finding a home at the fire station, the FWFD's HOPE Team began searching for Tom and eventually located him in a homeless camp, per WAFB 9.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
While other dental prosthetics have been discovered—such as a wire dental ligature from the late 15th century and an ivory bridge from the 16th and 17th centuries—more advanced versions began to appear in the 19th and 20th centuries.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026
Bloom reveals the pair hit it off straight away, and that he was especially charmed by how Barrymore, who began acting at only 11 months old, made an effort to connect with all of the kids on set, too.
—EW.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
One of the earliest programs for continuing education came from Harvard University, who began the Harvard Extension School in 1835 in what was then called the Lowell Institute.
—Bryan Penprase, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
New data from Moody's Analytics shows the typical household has now spent an extra nearly $450 on fuel expenses since the war began.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
Born in 1926 in Pittsburgh, Negri began performing on the radio at just 3 years old.
—Kristine Sorensen, CBS News, 31 May 2026
The fire authority’s hazardous materials response team began dousing the tanks at a Garden Grove facility Thursday, prompting an initial evacuation order that was lifted later that day.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In addition to Jake finding a home at the fire station, the FWFD's HOPE Team began searching for Tom and eventually located him in a homeless camp, per WAFB 9.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
While other dental prosthetics have been discovered—such as a wire dental ligature from the late 15th century and an ivory bridge from the 16th and 17th centuries—more advanced versions began to appear in the 19th and 20th centuries.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026
Bloom reveals the pair hit it off straight away, and that he was especially charmed by how Barrymore, who began acting at only 11 months old, made an effort to connect with all of the kids on set, too.
—EW.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for began
Verb
-
Usyk tried to swarm once the action commenced.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
The LPs also commenced his empathetic association with bassist Bob Cranshaw, who appeared on Rollins’ albums for the next half-century.—
Chris Morris,
Variety,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Oncologists are being flooded with requests as the special access program gets started.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
Yet, San Antonio should be well-prepared for the challenge, having beaten the reigning champion Thunder, which started this season 24-1 and swept its first two playoff opponents.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The backstory The property opened in March 2015 as the first hotel of the 1 Hotels brand founded by Barry Sternlight, and resides in the former Gansevoort Hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The Tea Party, that movement of grass-roots right-wing anger that evolved into MAGA, was founded the same year.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Ditto for the realization that Jean-Michel Basquiat died of an overdose in lower Manhattan the same day The Last Temptation opened in midtown.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
The other two entrances, also blocked by craters and debris, had already been opened, and the roads to them, previously destroyed by bombing, had been repaved.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Federal officials said the researchers were found with the virus when they were stopped in January at the Detroit Metro Airport after deboarding Delta Flight 229 that originated from Congo Republic, where an outbreak of mpox was occurring.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
For the unfamiliar, Pokémon is an international phenomenon that originated in Japan and took off in the late 1990s.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Under protocols established to monitor their health and protect the community, a quarantine order is in place.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
The backstory The history of Babylonstoren goes back to the tail end of the 17th century when it was established as a wheat and wine farm.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Instead, Colorado received two stores, and six decades later, the one launched in Glendale remains one of the company’s most active.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Disney’s bet on sports and streaming amplified last August when the company launched the ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming app, which features all of the content from its TV network as well as exclusive programming.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Verb
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But serious questions about the House bill quickly arose.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2026
-
As questions arose, Diaz-Rosillo revealed to Peruvian media that Fujimori was paid $45,000 for a full year of work.—
Daniel Rivero,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Began.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/began. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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