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.

What began as a heartwarming Super Bowl commercial about finding a lost dog quickly turned into a flashpoint for privacy critics — and forced Amazon’s Ring to cancel a planned surveillance partnership.

From Salon

The visitors' scrum superiority brought them three more points early in a second half that began without Ritchie on one side and Underhill.

From BBC

Harry Brook's laugh as he began his post-match press conference said plenty.

From BBC

Mr. Areddy began reporting for the U.S. newspaper and Dow Jones & Co. in the late 1980s and has written stories for many sections of The Journal and its affiliate publications.

From The Wall Street Journal

"People seeing themselves in a sport they were told wasn't for them, that stays with me," he said before the Games began.

From BBC