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Synonym Chooser

How is the word begin different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of begin are commence, inaugurate, initiate, start, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How is commence related to other words for begin?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When could inaugurate be used to replace begin?

The words inaugurate and begin are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

When would initiate be a good substitute for begin?

While the synonyms initiate and begin are close in meaning, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

Where would start be a reasonable alternative to begin?

The synonyms start and begin are sometimes interchangeable, but start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of begin?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

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 begin Her passion spread more during the pandemic when some things were hard to get so Quigley began growing her own lettuce. Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Sit facing forward and set the arms of the machine close together to begin the set. Jakob Roze, Health, 8 Sep. 2025 The Alcaraz and Sinner trilogy in major finals began with an epic French Open final that came in at a whopping five hours and 29 minutes. Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 The social media movements of the 2010s, beginning with #MeToo, were driven in large part by journalism. Max Tani, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for begin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for begin
Verb
  • Littell would finish six innings before the battle of the bullpens commenced.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Indeed, pricing may commence prior to the earnings announcement.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, Kansas City schools - many of which started classes this week - will have to get creative to balance both environments.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
  • That could mean the index is vulnerable to a pullback if the tech sector starts to falter — especially at a moment when many investors fear the megacaps are priced for perfection.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The roots of my family tree are firmly established in the soil of Great Britain.
    Elizabeth Bass Parman, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Period-appropriate musical elements will help establish the nostalgic atmosphere.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Pittman is referring to the 6-4 left-hander Austin Simmons, who suffered a left ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Ole Miss’ 30-23 win last week at Kentucky to open league play.
    Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Jean Silva Betting Odds And Line Movement When the betting odds opened for the Noche UFC main event, BetOnline had Silva as the -250 betting favorite over the +210 Lopes.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Hurricane Lane in 2018, spawned by a tropical wave that originated in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, eventually became only the fifth Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale on record in the Central Pacific Basin, according to a hurricane center report.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The new charges originate from that fall, before Rodriguez-Singh left for India, according to the indictment.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In the last quarter, the partnership has facilitated recovery of more than 26,600 kilograms of textiles from 23 hotels and initiated conversations with 12 hotel groups in Delhi.
    Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The company has also initiated a search process to find a permanent successor.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Experts previously stressed to Parents the importance of having ongoing chats with teens about social media, their activity on different platforms, and any issues that may arise.
    Anna Halkidis, Parents, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Initially, conflict with partners and close friends might arise, especially this morning.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Advertisement In some respects, Patagonia has hardly changed since Chouinard founded the company.
    David Gelles, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • With no clear winner yet, the European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors, a public-private platform founded by the European Commission in 2024, has been edging its bets.
    Anna Heim, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Begin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begin. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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