beginning

1 of 2

noun

be·​gin·​ning bi-ˈgi-niŋ 

bē-

1

: the point at which something begins : start

It was clear from the beginning that she would win.

2

: the first part

We missed the beginning of the movie.

3

: origin, source

No one remembers what the beginning of the feud was.

4

: a rudimentary stage or early period

—usually used in plural

the company's modest beginnings in an old warehouse

She came from humble beginnings.

beginning

2 of 2

adjective

1

: just starting out

a beginning writer

2

a

: being first or the first part

the beginning chapters

b

: introductory

beginning chemistry

Synonyms

Noun

• alpha
• baseline
• birth
• commencement
• dawn
• day one
• genesis
• get-go
• git-go
• inception
• incipience
• incipiency
• kickoff
• launch
• morning
• nascence
• nascency
• onset
• outset
• start
• threshold

Adjective

• introductory
• precursory
• prefatory
• prelim
• preliminary
• prelusive
• preparative
• preparatory
• primary

Examples of beginning in a Sentence

Noun

Go back to the beginning of the song.

We were late, so we missed the beginning of the movie.

The changes that have been made so far are just the beginning. There are many more changes still to come.

He came from humble beginnings.

the company's modest beginnings in an old warehouse

Adjective

the beginning part of the book is a portrait of Europe on the eve of the World War I

a course in beginning geology for nonscience majors

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

My stay was brief—just two nights at the beginning of a weeklong trip through Spain. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Dec. 2024

While neither deal extends to the beginning of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration, the resort has announced a hotel promotion that begins May 16 and runs through Sept. 26, with discounts as high as 30% off, depending on the time of stay. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Three ounces of seed will cover 400 square feet, a nice start to a beginning habitat garden. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024

But fans had been mourning the loss of the cheeky, friendly kid from the beginning days of the band for years. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English biginning, from gerund of beginnen "to begin"

Adjective

from present participle of begin

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beginning

• beginning rhyme
• in the beginning
• the beginning of the end

Kids Definition

beginning

noun

be·​gin·​ning

bi-ˈgin-iŋ

1

: the point at which something begins

the beginning of the year

2

: the first part

go back to the beginning of the song

3

: an early stage or period

the beginnings of American history