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Definition of beginnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word begin different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of begin are commence, inaugurate, initiate, start, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How is commence related to other words for begin?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When could inaugurate be used to replace begin?

The words inaugurate and begin are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

When would initiate be a good substitute for begin?

While the synonyms initiate and begin are close in meaning, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

Where would start be a reasonable alternative to begin?

The synonyms start and begin are sometimes interchangeable, but start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of begin?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of begin Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025 Several states, including California, quickly began to dole out benefits. Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2025 According to the report, McClure was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer southbound when the vehicle left the road and began to spin. Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 10 Nov. 2025 More than 4,800 flights have been canceled across the nation since the Federal Aviation Administration began restricting flight capacity at 40 major airports on Friday due to the ongoing government shutdown. Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for begin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for begin
Verb
  • The bombardment of political ads will commence this week.
    Paul Miller, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Officials then searched the children’s home and commenced an air and ground search.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Amazon quietly discounted dozens of top picks from Stewart’s collection, including Dutch ovens, knife sets, oven mitts, and more, with prices starting at just $8 and discounts going for up to 60 percent off.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft wasn’t the Saints’ guy to start the season.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Auditing two departments Calvo plans to establish a task force to audit Hialeah’s 911 operations, responding tor concerns from dispatchers about understaffing and slow response times.
    Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Since the 1977 report, scores of other scientific studies involving thousands have clearly established a strong association between consumption of meat and dairy products and elevated incidences of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and certain types of cancer.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The burger chain originally opened in 1982 near the corner of C Street and Elvas Avenue in East Sacramento, according to previous Bee reporting.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The new Claribel Road bridge is scheduled to open by the end of 2026, with Phase 1 of the North County Corridor project expected to open to traffic in early 2028.
    Nina Burns, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The project originated from a news story and took shape during a residency at the Museum of Imagined Futures.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Fannie Mae and Freddie, which are in government conservatorship, do not originate home loans.
    Diana Olick, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Preparations for the pilot production in the coming year have already been initiated.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Crime in Anne Arundel County Saturday's shooting initiated Anne Arundel County's first homicide investigation of 2026.
    Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Cultural, linguistic, and value-based assimilation challenges arise, potentially altering national identities and eroding civilizational confidence.
    Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The original postponement announcement stated NASA was monitoring a medical concern that arose Wednesday afternoon.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • However, former Federal Air Marshal Peter Johnson — who founded Archway Defense, which has trained state, local and federal law enforcement in firearms for the past decade — told WCCO the street is not the place to challenge a federal agent's orders.
    WCCO Staff, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The OpenSnow reporting and forecasting service is predicting four to eight additional inches at many resorts between Wednesday evening and Friday morning, although founding meteorologist Joel Gratz acknowledged that the weather models for this system have been a bit confounding.
    John Meyer, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Begin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begin. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on begin

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