began

[bih-gan] / bɪˈgæn /

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start v.
come into being; become functional v.

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.

See Examples For:

began

Born Aug. 21, 1989, in Palisades, New York, Panettiere began appearing in commercials before her first birthday.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

More than 200 murals have been created since the festival began, which, in addition to Salvadoran artists, has also featured artists from Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Argentina.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

As the procession began, Total Eclipse of the Heart could be heard playing on the busy street, as crying fans broke into applause.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

The presenter, Jimmy Chin, finally got his computer to work and began showing videos of himself and two others climbing Mount Everest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 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