beginning 1 of 3

noun

bi-ˈgi-niŋ How to pronounce beginning (audio)
Definition of beginningnext
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

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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

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2
as in introductory
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject a course in beginning geology for nonscience majors

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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

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2
as in starting
to come into existence the storm began late in the day and lasted all night

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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

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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
Noun
Many other companies have similar, unlikely stories of their beginnings. — Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 And that was the beginning of the next phase of their lives together. — Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Sep. 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 only project not beginning life as a microdrama is Rico ATL, which is being developed as a feature film from the off. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026 As a general rule, Maroldi recommends waiting roughly two to three hours after a large meal before beginning intense exercise. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beginning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beginning
  1. start
  2. preparatory
  3. introductory
  4. commencing
  5. starting
  6. founding
  7. inception
  8. preliminary
Noun
  • Before last year’s 2-0 start, Taylor went 1-11 during the first two weeks of the season as a head coach.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of start
Adjective
  • In his case, this is mainly evident during the preparatory stage.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Baniewicz was hired by Bishop Miege in 2023 after serving nearly 14 years as president of Maur Hill-Mount Academy, a college preparatory boarding school in Atchison.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of preparatory
Adjective
  • Right now, RingCentral is running an introductory deal where businesses with fewer than 400 employees can switch to its service and get a full year absolutely free.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2026
  • After an introductory conversation, Nomo showed Bednar his grip for the pitch.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of introductory
Verb
  • The program picked four international applicants out of nearly 1,000 for a six-month fellowship commencing this month in London along with a cash prize of £10,000 ($13,480) each.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This week, London’s Serpentine Galleries announced the launch of a six-month fellowship program, commencing in September, that will award four artists working with artificial intelligence grants of £10,000.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of commencing
Verb
  • Kevin Danso, who closed the season as his starting centre-back, and Cristian Romero have been replaced in the starting line-up by Jan Paul van Hecke, a classy but less physically dominant defender than the outgoers.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But just as at any school, the students are then split into many more subcultures, starting with those in the co-ops—student-run living and dining communities that essentially stand in for Greek life.
    — Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of starting
Verb
  • Before founding the company, al Khafaji had created data visualisation firm Silk, later acquired by Palantir.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
  • To those paying attention to what’s transpired over the last few years, the debate playing out online is not a surprise, said Brian Levin, founding director at the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of founding
Noun
  • The selection committee has included at least one representative for each team/market since the Hall’s inception in 1963, with an increasing number of at-large selectors more recently.
    — Mike Sando, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • McKenna took over the role in 2025 from Charles Mesure, who played the former World Security Bureau boss and intelligence operative since the character's 2023 inception.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of inception
Adjective
  • Scrutiny of the project would later intensify after preliminary designs were released late last year.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
  • But Huby’s bigger passion has always been human spaceflight, and her company has begun preliminary work on a crew spacecraft that could serve either the International Space Station or private space stations under development by US companies.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of preliminary

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Cite this Entry

“Beginning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beginning. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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