as in start
the point at which something begins
the actual beginning of the universe is still under debate, with some scientists continuing to uphold the big bang theory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in preparatory
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
the beginning part of the book is a portrait of Europe on the eve of the World War I
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in introductory
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject
a course in beginning geology for nonscience majors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in commencing
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
she began walking to work for exercise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in starting
to come into existence
the storm began late in the day and lasted all night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in founding
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
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 beginning
Charlie Mason, TVLine, 22 June 2025
Fortunately, this could be the luckiest week of the year for you, along with a dazzling new moon in Cancer that could bring euphoric news, new beginnings and miraculous blessings to your life.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 22 June 2025
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
One source said that at the beginning Trump was reluctant to hold the meeting, but eventually agreed.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 7 Dec. 2024
Julia Angwin, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
—Devi Shastri, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beginning
Noun
Sunday’s episode of The Walking Dead: Dead City not only marked the end of Season 2 but also a new beginning.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 22 June 2025
Fortunately, this could be the luckiest week of the year for you, along with a dazzling new moon in Cancer that could bring euphoric news, new beginnings and miraculous blessings to your life.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 22 June 2025
Adjective
In this case, the planetesimal that was the beginning stage of Earth didn’t drop its MVEs at the start of its development.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
One source said that at the beginning Trump was reluctant to hold the meeting, but eventually agreed.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
In the United States, many of the referees are beginning to fall in line.
—Julia Angwin, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
—Devi Shastri, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beginning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beginning
Noun
-
Shohei Ohtani pitched one hitless inning in his second mound start of the season before hitting a three-run triple and a two-run homer, and Max Muncy had a grand slam and a three-run homer in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 13-7 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.—
Greg Beacham,
Chicago Tribune,
23 June 2025
-
Shohei Ohtani, who will make his second pitching start of the season Sunday afternoon, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.—
Benjamin Royer,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
In two rooms upstairs, there were hundreds of works: from art-school sketches and preparatory crayon drawings to large-scale, fully realized paintings that had taken Orlik months to complete.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
17 June 2025
-
That makes the Gold Cup, a three-week tournament with group play and a single-elimination knockout stage, an important preparatory test for the three hosts even if the field is less than stellar.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
On his introductory media call with the Ducks, Trouba said Drury forced him to choose between accepting a trade to a team on his no-trade list and going on waivers — the same way the GM got out of Goodrow’s contract nearly six months earlier.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
An introductory video shows views of the sky overhead and landscape along the sides of the aircraft via the screens.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
The New Year is starting with a fresh warning for those who work with animals in Texas.—
Li Cohen,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Murphy is term-limited, so the open-seat contest has attracted a cornucopia of candidates, starting with a crowded field of Democratic aspirants.—
Geoffrey Skelley,
ABC News,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Since founding the lifestyle brand Simplified in 2008, the mother of three has amassed over 30,000 followers on Substack and nearly 300,000 on Instagram.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Women deserve their own places at the top, and if that means more women are founding companies, the more, the merrier.—
Liz Elting,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Since its inception, in 2000, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which works with local governments to bring vaccines to low-income countries, has helped administer 1.9 billion vaccines and reached a billion children.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
27 June 2025
-
Ross has been a foundational voice for AEW since its inception.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
The project is in the first phase of engineering, which includes a preliminary design alignment.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2025
-
The games, seen as akin to a Jewish Olympics, had been set to open July 8, with preliminary activities beginning earlier in July.—
Philissa Cramer,
Sun Sentinel,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
What To Know The growing resistance to phones on school grounds has been burgeoning since Florida enacted statewide changes in elementary and middle schools in 2023.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
-
Queen, an elementary schooler at the time, preferred to play at Goldilocks, another neighborhood court five blocks away.—
Sam Cohn,
Baltimore Sun,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beginning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beginning. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share