What does begin mean?
To begin is to make a start — to perform the first part of an action, set a process in motion, or mark the point at which something comes into existence. It is one of the most fundamental verbs in English, applying equally to concrete acts (beginning a journey, beginning a meal) and abstract ones (a career, an era, an argument). A story may begin with a dramatic line; a life may begin in a small town. The verb also appears in emphatic idioms such as "I can't begin to imagine," where it intensifies rather than literally describes a start. Grammatically it is irregular: begin, began, begun. Its derivatives "beginning" (noun) and "beginner" (one who starts out in an activity) extend its reach into everyday vocabulary. Neutral in tone, universally understood, and indispensable in narration, "begin" remains among the most frequently used verbs in written and spoken English.
To perform or undergo the first part of an action; to start.
"He began to read the letter before the train left the station."
Irregular conjugation: begin–began–begun.
(Of an event, period, or thing) to come into existence or have a specified point of origin.
"The twentieth century began amid great optimism about technology."
The past tense "began" and past participle "begun" survive from two different Old English verbs that eventually merged into one — which is why "begin" has one of the most irregular conjugations of any common English verb.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of begin
"Begin" derives from Old English "beginnan", formed from the prefix "be-" attached to the Germanic verb "ginnan", meaning to open or undertake. Its modern past tense "began" and participle "begun" reflect a historical merger of forms from "beginnan" and a related Old English verb, "onginnan", giving the verb its characteristically irregular conjugation. Cognate forms appear across the Germanic languages, such as German "beginnen". The verb has been in continuous use since the earliest records of English.
Related word forms
How begin is actually used
Neutral in register and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. In careful usage, "begin" takes the forms begin–began–begun; using "began" as a past participle (e.g. *"had began"*) is nonstandard.
Easily confused with begin
"Begin" is the verb meaning to start, while "beginning" is its noun derivative meaning the first part or starting point of something.