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.

It began when Sarah found out she would be unlikely to have a healthy pregnancy.

From BBC

But starting in the 1950s, Germany began to slowly rebuild its military and defense industry with U.S. support, acting as a bulwark against the Soviet Union.

From The Wall Street Journal

When the American-led international force was there, her country began to modernise, giving rights to women that their mothers did not have.

From Barron's

As the year went on, Mark Zuckerberg began a recruiting blitz that roiled the industry, offering elite researchers unfathomably large sums of money to join his AI dream team inside Meta.

From The Wall Street Journal

In January, Witkoff began telling people that he might be asked to take on the Iran and Russia portfolios.

From The Wall Street Journal