origins

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cause, basis n.
beginning, inception n.
family, heritage n.

NOUN

cause, basis

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ancestor ancestry connection element influence motive provenance root source

STRONG

agent antecedent author base causality causation creator derivation determinant egg embryo fountain generator germ impulse inception inducement inspiration mainspring nucleus occasion parent parentage principle producer progenitor provenience roots seed spring stock well wellspring

WEAK

horse's mouth

Antonyms

STRONG

conclusion effect end ending result

WEAK

close completion consequence death destiny finale goal outcome outgrowth termination

NOUN

beginning, inception

Synonyms

STRONGEST

birth genesis

STRONG

alpha commencement creation dawn dawning embarkation emergence entrance entry forging foundation inauguration ingress initiation introduction launch nativity opener origination outbreak outset rise start

WEAK

blast off day one early stage git go square one starting point

Antonyms

STRONGEST

conclusion end finish

STRONG

close completion death ending exit stop

WEAK

consequence destiny effect finale goal outcome outgrowth result termination

NOUN

family, heritage

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ancestry birth descent lineage

STRONG

beginnings blood extraction maternity parentage paternity pedigree stock

Antonyms

WEAK

close completion conclusion consequence death destiny effect end finale goal outcome outgrowth result termination

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.

See Examples For:

origins

The deeper lesson, though, is that a constitutional right’s popular origins do not guarantee a democratic afterlife.

From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026

Scientists and governments have legitimate reasons to investigate the origins of a pandemic.

From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026

These reconstructions allowed them to trace the origins of cancer clones, groups of genetically identical cells that later contributed to disease progression.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026

Ohtani, who led off Tuesday’s 7-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners with a home run, clarified the origins of his knee problem and shared an estimate of where it’s at strength-wise.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

No one doubted the origins of that nameless child: he looked exactly like the colonel at the time he was taken to see ice for the first time.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez