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
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Recent Examples of beginning
Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 29 May 2026
On Friday, May 29, prices in South Florida were down by double digits from the beginning of the week.
—Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Next week, Grizzly Bear headline the first show in a five-night run at New York’s Brooklyn Steel, the beginning leg of their first tour in six years.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 Oct. 2025
Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Davis Pride kicks off a month-long celebration beginning Saturday, June 6.
—Allison Gibson, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for beginning
Noun
Since the beginning of March, Nvidia has announced $2 billion investments into Lumentum, Coherent and Marvell, all of which are developing photonics tech.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 29 May 2026
On Friday, May 29, prices in South Florida were down by double digits from the beginning of the week.
—Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
Adjective
Goforth is hoping to be open by the spring of 2026, with remodeling plans for the tasting room in the very beginning stages.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Next week, Grizzly Bear headline the first show in a five-night run at New York’s Brooklyn Steel, the beginning leg of their first tour in six years.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
The governor issued an executive order instructing the state agency overseeing a program that issues tax incentives for data centers to pause the program beginning July 1.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Davis Pride kicks off a month-long celebration beginning Saturday, June 6.
—Allison Gibson, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for beginning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beginning
Noun
-
Often mixed in to the beat are noisemakers like matracas – wooden objects in the shape of flags that produce a loud clacking sound when spun – and plastic horns called cornetas, which fans use to keep the matches animated from start to finish.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
During his contract year with the Braves in 2022, Swanson appeared in all 162 games and made 161 starts at shortstop, logging 1,433 innings at a premium defensive position while also producing 25 home runs and 96 RBIs.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
When interview invitations arrive, candidates have already done the reflective and preparatory work that helps make those conversations productive instead of reactive.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The artist painted the mural singlehandedly, by hand, says the complaint, over many weeks, without preparatory sketches.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
The California Democrat was so unfamiliar to the incoming president that Biden badly mispronounced his name at an introductory news conference.—
Dan Diamond,
Washington Post,
31 May 2026
-
Locke’s children’s book is an introductory lesson about gender-inclusive pronouns.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The 79th annual Cannes Film Festival is around the corner, commencing May 13 with the opening ceremony at the Palais des Festivals in the south of France.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
-
This is the phase of the project that’s now commencing.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Xi will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a two-day state visit starting from next Monday, state media Xinhua announced on Friday.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Paul Rogers, a DNR fire prevention specialist, said 80% of the fires that get out of control every year in Michigan are caused by humans, with many of those fires starting as small, intended burns.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The Biennale announced the jury, invited by Kouoh and led by president Solange Oliveira Farkas, founding artistic director of the Videobrasil Biennial, this past April; its job is normally to designate winners of Golden Lions for the best presentations in the show.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
-
The bank was a founding partner of the Valkyries, who already rank as the WNBA’s most valuable team at $850 million; the Warriors are the NBA’s most valuable, unseating the Knicks’ stranglehold on the spot in 2023, per ’s rankings.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
While making Asphalt Meadows, Gibbard began digitizing 4-track demo tapes from Death Cab’s early years, uncovering instrumentals from the band’s inception and reminding the frontman of his old writing process.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
-
Behar, a long-running voice on the panel, has remained a central figure since returning to the program in 2015 following her original run during the show's inception in 1997.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
The sources described it as a preliminary operation laying the groundwork for additional steps by installing listening devices and intelligence equipment in the area.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Officials explained on a call earlier Wednesday that the case was a ‘presumptive positive,’ which means preliminary tests were positive but that results needed to be confirmed, according to Reuters.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beginning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beginning. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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