beginning

1 of 2

noun

be·​gin·​ning bi-ˈgi-niŋ 

bē-

1

: the point at which something begins : start

It was clear from the beginning that she would win.

2

: the first part

We missed the beginning of the movie.

3

: origin, source

No one remembers what the beginning of the feud was.

4

: a rudimentary stage or early period

—usually used in plural

the company's modest beginnings in an old warehouse

She came from humble beginnings.

beginning

2 of 2

adjective

1

: just starting out

a beginning writer

2

a

: being first or the first part

the beginning chapters

b

: introductory

beginning chemistry

Synonyms of beginning

Noun

• start
• inception
• commencement
• onset
• alpha
• launch

Adjective

• preparatory
• preliminary
• introductory

Examples of beginning in a Sentence

Noun

Go back to the beginning of the song.

We were late, so we missed the beginning of the movie.

The changes that have been made so far are just the beginning. There are many more changes still to come.

He came from humble beginnings.

the company's modest beginnings in an old warehouse

Adjective

the beginning part of the book is a portrait of Europe on the eve of the World War I

a course in beginning geology for nonscience majors

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Probably the beginning of his freshman year, hated him. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 4 June 2026

The absence of Alonso (or any true power bat) hasn’t been the full story of Boston’s miserable 25-34 start to the season, nor is his presence in Baltimore the full story of their slightly better 29-32 beginnings. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026

Adjective

After his beginning years in the cafe, Trygar has since moved to the maintenance department and has been responsible for taking care some of Kennywood's iconic rides like the Racer, the Log Jammer, and the Merry Go Round. —Mike Darnay, CBS News, 7 May 2026

The band joins Yellowcard for the Up Up Down Down Tour, a 27-date spring outing with Plain White T’s beginning May 6 in Atlanta and concluding June 20 in Springfield, Massachusetts. —Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English biginning, from gerund of beginnen "to begin"

Adjective

from present participle of begin

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beginning

• beginning rhyme
• in the beginning
• the beginning of the end

Rhymes for beginning

• binning
• dinning
• ginning
• grinning
• inning
• pinning
• sinning
• skinning
• spinning
• thinning
• tinning
• twinning

Kids Definition

beginning

noun

be·​gin·​ning

bi-ˈgin-iŋ

1

: the point at which something begins

the beginning of the year

2

: the first part

go back to the beginning of the song

3

: an early stage or period

the beginnings of American history