1
as in commenced
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
she began walking to work for exercise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in started
to come into existence
the storm began late in the day and lasted all night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in founded
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 begun
The pair reunited five days later and have since begun training.
—
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The third season of Crave comedy The Trades has begun shooting in Nova Scotia, Canada.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Recently, residents in the Charlotte region have begun voicing opposition to plans for large data centers in their communities.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025
Con 2025 is any indication, the era of agentic security has officially begun.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
To meet that goal, organizers have begun selling naming rights at competition venues, the first time such brand deals have been offered for Olympic and Paralympic Games.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The way his mind had begun to shuffle through worst-case scenarios was something Sutton-Schulman hadn’t witnessed before.
—Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
Some regions of the United States are experiencing higher rates of positive COVID-19 tests than others, though reporting has slowed down enough nationwide that the CDC has begun allowing more time to pass between certain types of updates, such as those on variant prevalence.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Surprisingly, the analysis also suggested that the genus-level extinction rates appear to have begun declining, with the fastest extinction rates occurring in the decades 1870s, 1890s and 1900s.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The third season of Crave comedy The Trades has begun shooting in Nova Scotia, Canada.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Recently, residents in the Charlotte region have begun voicing opposition to plans for large data centers in their communities.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025
Con 2025 is any indication, the era of agentic security has officially begun.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
To meet that goal, organizers have begun selling naming rights at competition venues, the first time such brand deals have been offered for Olympic and Paralympic Games.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The way his mind had begun to shuffle through worst-case scenarios was something Sutton-Schulman hadn’t witnessed before.
—Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
Some regions of the United States are experiencing higher rates of positive COVID-19 tests than others, though reporting has slowed down enough nationwide that the CDC has begun allowing more time to pass between certain types of updates, such as those on variant prevalence.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Surprisingly, the analysis also suggested that the genus-level extinction rates appear to have begun declining, with the fastest extinction rates occurring in the decades 1870s, 1890s and 1900s.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for begun
Verb
-
By the time the impeachment trial commenced, the top-down pressure from prominent, national Republicans could be seen and felt.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Littell would finish six innings before the battle of the bullpens commenced.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ahead of Kirk's visit to Utah Valley University, some students started an online petition asking university administrators to stop him from coming.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
-
After Sheen started misusing substances, Cryer noticed Sheen’s razor-sharp performance slipping on the CBS comedy.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Rec was founded in 2022 by Birju Kadakia and Rachel Williams, who worked together at Uber in the mid-2010s.—
Tim Casey,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Ermiya Fanaeian, a transgender woman of color and formerly a diversity director at the University of Utah, founded AQSLC after parting ways with the Pink Pistols, an LGBT organization advocating in support of firearm safety and bearing arms as a means of self-defense.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The flight originated from Salt Lake City, Utah.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The meme, poking fun at the community, originated in around 2013.—
Dan Gooding
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Haas have not initiated a Right of Review appeal within the 96-hour window available to all teams in such matters, following the Monza race last Sunday.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
In the last quarter, the partnership has facilitated recovery of more than 26,600 kilograms of textiles from 23 hotels and initiated conversations with 12 hotel groups in Delhi.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the meantime, new problems have arisen with both IDR and PSLF.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Across the country, concern has arisen over improper uses of restraint and seclusion causing physical and mental harm — and sometimes even death — to students.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Earlier this month, a federal judge determined that some of the military's actions in support of ICE, including establishing protective perimeters during raids, constituted law enforcement and thus were against the law.—
Alex Horton,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
-
At a briefing, Peskov said the matter was outside the presidential administration's purview and declined to speculate on whether the incident constituted a provocation.—
Amanda Castro
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sharpe also been an organizer of Bockfest and was the development director of former local radio station WNKU.—
Erin Glynn,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Sean Payton‘s been the Broncos head coach for just over two years now.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Begun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begun. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share