# begin

/bɪˈɡɪn/ (US) · /bɪɡˈɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/begin
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. to come into existence

verb · CEFR A2

to happen or exist from a certain point in time or at a specific place.

For teachers: to have a starting point in time, space, or existence; to originate.

- The concert will begin at exactly eight o'clock tonight.
- The Nile begins in the mountains of Africa and flows north toward the Mediterranean Sea.

Usage: Often used intransitively when describing the origin of stories, rivers, or historical periods.

### 3. to have as a first element

verb · CEFR A1

to have a specific letter, word, or part at the very start.

For teachers: to have something as its first or initial part.

- Many English sentences begin with the word 'The'.
- Each chapter in the textbook begins with a brief summary of the key learning objectives to be covered.

## Examples

- The movie will begin at eight o'clock.
- We should begin the meeting now so that we can finish everything on the agenda before lunch.
- Although the author intended to begin the novel with a dramatic scene, she eventually decided that a slow, atmospheric introduction would better serve the story's themes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.