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.

Birol had earlier warned that the oil crunch would intensify in April as supply constraints deepen, saying that March supplies benefited from shipments already in transit before the conflict began.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

However, this forecast was also made before the start of the war began.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

When healthy macrophages were exposed to high levels of LDL cholesterol in the lab, they stopped dividing, began releasing inflammatory proteins and displayed the same p21-TREM2 signature.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

Danielle Dutta, who attended Kumar’s first book crawl in Culver City, began multiple friendships that way: messaging mutual social media connections about whether they were attending an upcoming book event.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

He struck the stone against the rim of his monocle, raining sparks over the hearth kindling—once, twice, three times, until the sparks nestled into the tinder and began to grow into flames.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman