Synonyms of beginning

beginning 1 of 3

noun

bi-ˈgi-niŋ 

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

• start
• inception
• commencement
• onset
• launch
• alpha
• outset
• dawn
• genesis
• morning
• kickoff
• birth
• infancy
• baseline
• threshold
• day one
• inauguration
• get-go
• initiation
• git-go
• origination
• incipiency
• nascence
• incipience
• founding
• nascency
• origin
• dawning
• first base
• arrival
• spring
• creation
• ground zero
• opening
• emergence
• drawing board
• debut
• advent
• institution
• well
• source
• germ
• childhood
• cradle
• fountain
• square one
• appearance
• début
• root
• wellspring
• youth
• seedbed
• fountainhead

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• end
• conclusion
• ending
• close
• period
• completion
• closing
• finish
• stop
• termination
• closure
• cessation
• omega
• finale
• windup

beginning

2 of 3

adjective

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

• preparatory
• preliminary
• introductory
• primary
• early
• preparative
• prefatory
• precursory
• preparing
• prelusive
• introducing
• prelim
• previous
• basic
• prior
• elementary
• preceding
• ahead
• fundamental
• warning
• prefacing
• readying
• premonitory
• former

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• following
• subsequent
• after
• behind

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

• introductory
• elementary
• basic
• rudimentary
• fundamental
• underlying
• essential
• basal
• elemental
• simple
• preliminary
• rudimental
• prime
• abecedarian
• primary
• meat-and-potatoes
• preparatory
• primeval
• primordial
• uncomplicated
• crucial
• primal
• important
• primitive
• key
• crude
• rude

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advanced
• complex
• extensive
• sophisticated
• detailed
• higher
• complicated
• high
• elaborate
• evolved
• developed
• intricate
• refined
• convoluted

beginning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of begin

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

• commencing
• starting
• opening
• launching
• falling (to)
• entering (into or upon)
• creating
• striking (into)
• embarking (on or upon)
• getting off
• initiating
• getting to
• originating
• leading off
• getting going
• organizing
• setting about
• establishing
• generating
• kicking off
• adopting
• inaugurating
• founding
• inventing
• instituting
• pioneering
• spawning
• innovating
• taking on
• taking up
• embracing
• getting down (to)
• setting up
• getting around (to)
• fathering
• getting round (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• finishing
• concluding
• terminating
• stopping
• halting
• ceasing
• closing
• completing
• discontinuing
• quitting
• laying off
• leaving
• abandoning
• desisting
• destroying
• knocking off
• abolishing
• forsaking
• extinguishing
• phasing out
• exterminating
• demolishing

2

as in starting

to come into existence

the storm began late in the day and lasted all night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• starting
• commencing
• originating
• arising
• appearing
• being
• forming
• emerging
• arriving
• dawning
• springing
• existing
• living
• breaking
• lasting
• continuing
• actualizing
• setting in
• materializing
• engendering
• breathing
• surviving
• coming on
• subsisting
• shaping (up)
• persisting
• enduring
• coalescing
• cohering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• stopping
• ceasing
• finishing
• concluding
• terminating
• halting
• discontinuing
• quitting
• disappearing
• vanishing
• dying
• dissolving
• evaporating
• departing
• expiring
• desisting
• passing away
• perishing

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

• founding
• establishing
• initiating
• pioneering
• introducing
• launching
• creating
• starting
• instituting
• inaugurating
• planting
• originating
• constituting
• constructing
• organizing
• innovating
• developing
• setting up
• inventing
• authoring
• manufacturing
• thinking (up)
• devising
• producing
• cooking (up)
• expanding
• conceiving
• funding
• financing
• making up
• enlarging
• fathering
• subsidizing
• concocting
• contriving
• arranging
• endowing
• fabricating
• systematizing
• relaunching
• reinstituting
• reinitiating
• refounding
• putting up
• systemizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closing (down)
• ending
• shutting (up)
• phasing out
• abolishing
• finishing
• stopping
• terminating
• halting
• nullifying
• annulling
• annihilating
• winding up
• rounding (off or out)
• wrapping up

Examples of beginning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At the beginning, many Palestinians may have believed that such images could compel the world to act—to help bring an end to their suffering. —Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 7 Oct. 2024

The moment happened at the beginning of the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers preseason game against the Phoenix Suns. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 7 Oct. 2024

Adjective

The very beginning stages can feel very intimidating! —Christa Sgobba, SELF, 25 Jan. 2024

Nonetheless, the kickback swept in hard during the beginning months of 1986, and many of the complaints came from Black male artists and thinkers. —Scott Hocker, theweek, 7 Jan. 2024