began

[bih-gan] / bɪˈgæn /

VERB

start

Synonyms

STRONGEST

commence create do establish found go ahead go into inaugurate initiate introduce launch lead make open prepare produce set up undertake

STRONG

activate actualize cause drive effect eventuate generate impel induce instigate institute motivate mount occasion originate trigger

WEAK

break ground break the ice bring about bring to pass embark on enter on enter upon get going give birth to give impulse lay foundation for make active plunge into set about set in motion

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cease close conclude destroy end fail finish halt ignore lose neglect ruin stop

STRONG

check discourage dissuade prevent repress

WEAK

complete consummate die

VERB

come into being; become functional

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appear come out commence emerge enter happen occur rise set start take off

STRONG

arise bud dawn emanate germinate originate sail spring sprout

WEAK

be born come forth come into existence crop up derive from get going get show on road get under way grow out of issue forth kick off make tick proceed from result from send off stem from

Antonyms

STRONGEST

complete disappear end finish hide leave stop

STRONG

die shrink

WEAK

conclude consummate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On Saturday, the number of crossings peaked at 11—the most in a single day since March 1— after Iran began allowing Iraqi vessels External link to move through the waterway.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

The move comes as markets brace for China’s first full inflation print since the war began in late February.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

The new strike is one of the longest and 15th of the ongoing dispute, which began in March 2023.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Foreign holders also may have been on the wrong side of recent interest-rate bets, he said, noting that the unwinding began as the war triggered a spike in Treasury yields.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

She began to tell me all about the animals we were hearing, their names, the countries they had come from, their personalities, who was friends with who, all their funny habits.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo