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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 That journey begins Tuesday when Florida begins its opening-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena (8:30 p.m., ESPN/Scripps Sports). Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025 According to The Knot’s 2025 Real Weddings Study, a whopping 57% of couples begin discussing engagement over a year before a proposal and a mere 2% never discussed it. Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 20 Apr. 2025 Earlier this month, the Administration began the process of cancelling the Social Security numbers of immigrants who were in the country lawfully. Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025 The European Union has begun to issue its U.S.-bound officials burner phones, for fear of surveillance, the Financial Times reported. Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for begin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for begin
Verb
  • Around the same time, the company commenced an aggressive play for the college sports insurance market, introducing a novel contract protection product for NIL collectives while also trying to get into the critical injury coverage niche.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Production on the second season of Nobody Wants This commenced in March 2025.
    Michael Nied, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Bobby manages to save Chimney, who falls ill and starts coughing up blood while responding to the lab blaze.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Vásquez has chosen the brown tops in two of his three road starts and lost both.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Smithsonian Institution was first established by Congress with funding from British scientist James Smithson.
    Lauren Peller, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • What things like weekly releases, time slots, and appointment television do is establish a habit.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Why the Chargers drafted him: A versatile receiver who was tied for the sixth-fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, Lambert-Smith would be another option to help open the Chargers’ vertical passing game.
    Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The announcement of Universal’s ambitious new UK theme park — a vast entertainment resort set to open near Bedford — is already sparking excitement across the leisure and retail industries.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • With approximately 77% of U.S. toy imports originating from China, coupling Hunyuan 3D with consumer-grade 3D printers offers a potential workaround for American buyers, highlighting how technology firms can creatively bypass political constraints to deliver value globally.
    Vivian Toh, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The criminal gang originated in a Venezuela prison and has slowly spread both north and south in recent years.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The recall, initiated by Blooming Import Inc. in Brooklyn, New York, affects 74 cases of Golden Crop Candy, which included the dyes Blue 1, Red 40 and Acid Red 18, which were not listed on the product label.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Businesses are wary of making those investments, citing uncertainty in operating conditions initiated by Trump’s tariff push, which has been rolled out in fits and starts.
    Tobias Burns, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In that maelstrom, several patients were given doses of sedatives that ultimately killed them, and Fink’s account revolves around those decisions and the criminal allegations that arose after the crisis.
    Heather Hansman, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Montgomery County Public Schools, where the issue being contested arose, did not reply to TIME’s request for comment.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Agrigento was founded in 580 B.C. as the largest Greek colony in Sicily.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • This organization was founded in 2017 by, among others, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
    Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 21 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Begin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begin. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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