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.

The latest releases began early on Christmas Day, according to the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, an advocacy group made up of rights activists and relatives of political prisoners.

From Barron's

He began serving the jail term two years later after losing all his appeals.

From Barron's

But in the powerless dusk, as the sun slipped behind the Rockies, the cottage we had rented began to light up with candles—short, tall, big, small, whatever we could find.

From The Wall Street Journal

When two instances of Claude 4 were placed in unconstrained dialogue with each other, both spontaneously began asserting they were conscious.

From The Wall Street Journal

As their coffins rested in the hearse, we began to sing “Am Yisrael Chai,” the anthem of the Soviet Jewry movement.

From The Wall Street Journal