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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in starting
to come into existence
the storm began late in the day and lasted all night
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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
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Recent Examples of beginning
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2025
At the beginning of the race, hundreds of spectators gather on the banks to watch the first several miles of beautiful chaos.
—Morgan O'Hanlon, Travel + Leisure, 7 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
It’s called the summer solstice and marks the beginning of summer and the longest day of the year here in our northern latitude.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2025
At the beginning of the race, hundreds of spectators gather on the banks to watch the first several miles of beautiful chaos.
—Morgan O'Hanlon, Travel + Leisure, 7 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
-
Despite a tentative start, shale gas is now a growing part of the plan.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Hawkins will begin the transition into the new position in June with a July 1 official start date.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 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
-
The week of June 23, the full introductory collection will be available on both Nrgy’s and Revo’s websites, then roll out to select brick-and-mortar retailers.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
9 June 2025
-
After his introductory remarks, Valenzuela welcomed record producer, DJ, filmmaker, and rapper Steven Ellison, who creates under the name Flying Lotus.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
6 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
-
The international expansion comes after Anti Social Social Club had largely stuck to its direct-to-consumer, drop model since its inception.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
13 June 2025
-
Fellows, who is a Gilroy native, says the event has pumped $12 million back into the community since its inception.—
Chelsee Lowe,
Travel + Leisure,
13 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
-
In September 2022, an Ohio lower court granted a temporary restraining order before granting a preliminary injunction a few weeks later.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Since 2019, Hawkins has led Student Support Services in Valparaiso including special education and social workers after beginning her career as an elementary teacher in 2001.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
-
Debates over integration are far from settled Last year, before President Trump took office, Concordia Parish rejected a Justice Department plan that would have ended its case if the district combined several majority white and majority Black elementary and middle schools.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beginning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beginning. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
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