beginning
[noun]
Synonyms:
- start, birth, commencement, inauguration, inception, initiation, onset, opening, origin, outset
- seed, fount, germ, root

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Antonyms: end, ending
Contrasted words: consummation, termination, closing, completion, conclusion, omega
Related Idioms: the word go
Related Words: creation, inception, origin, origination, root, source, spring, anlage, rudiment, sprout, prologue, appearance, emergence, rise, incipiency, infancy

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English Thesaurus: beginning, start, commencement, origin, the onset of something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

be‧gin‧ning S1 W2 /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/ noun [countable usually singular]
[Word Family: noun: beginner, beginning; verb: begin]

1. the start or first part of an event, story, period of time etc
beginning of
She’s been here since the beginning of the year.
There’s a short poem at the beginning of every chapter.
From the beginning of my career as a journalist, I’ve been writing about gender issues.
I thought he loved me; perhaps he did in the beginning.
That chance meeting marked the beginning of a long and happy relationship.
This is just the beginning of a new and different life for you.
I said he would cause trouble, right from the beginning.
I opposed it from the very beginning.
The whole trip was a disaster from beginning to end.
I feel like I’ve been offered a new beginning.
Could we start at the beginning? Tell me where you first met him.

2. beginnings [plural] the early signs or stages of something that later develops into something bigger or more important
beginnings of
I think I have the beginnings of a cold.
from humble/small beginnings
He rose from humble beginnings to great wealth.

3. the beginning of the end the time when something good starts to end

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

beginning
noun
ADJ. new She spoke of a new beginning for the nation.
VERB + BEGINNING herald, mark This invention marked the beginning of the modern age.
see 2001 saw the beginning of a period of rapid growth.
PREP. at the ~ (of sth) I'm paid at the beginning of each month.
from the ~ Tell me the whole story, right from the beginning.
in the ~ In the beginning I found the course very difficult.
PHRASES the beginning of the end That holiday together was the beginning of the end of our friendship.
early/first beginnings The society had its early beginnings in discussion groups.
from beginning to end The play was rubbish from beginning to end.
from humble/modest/small beginnings From these small beginnings it grew into the vast company we know today.
the very beginning I disliked her from the very beginning.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

beginning

a new beginning
The country needed a new government and a new beginning.
mark the beginning of something (also signal/herald the beginning of something) (=show that something is starting to happen)
This event marked the beginning of a ten-year worldwide depression.
see the beginning of something (=be the time when something important starts to happen)
The 1970s saw the beginning of a technological revolution.
right at/from the beginning (=used for emphasis)
That’s what I suggested right at the beginning.
at/from the very beginning (=used for emphasis)
He had been lying to me from the very beginning.
start at the beginning (=start a story or activity at the first part)
Just start at the beginning and tell us exactly what happened.
from beginning to end
The whole project was full of problems from beginning to end.
something is just/only the beginning (=used to emphasize that many more things will happen)
Signing the contract is just the beginning of a long process.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

beginning
noun
1.
BAD: In the beginning of the century people travelled from Britain to Egypt by sea.
GOOD: At the beginning of the century people travelled from Britain to Egypt by sea.

Usage Note:
FIRST · FIRST OF ALL · AT FIRST · IN/AT THE BEGINNING'
First, firstly and first of all First, firstly and first of all introduce the first item in a list or sequence. The next item is normally introduced by then or second/secondly : ‘First, open all the windows. Then turn off the gas and, if necessary, call an ambulance.’ ‘These new computers have several advantages. First of all, they’re faster than the older machines. Secondly, they’re far easier to use. And thirdly, they’re more reliable.’ at first At first introduces a situation which is in contrast with a later situation (after a change has taken place): ‘At first I didn’t like the climate, but after two years I got used to it.’
In the beginning Like at first, in the beginning introduces a situation which is in contrast with a later situation. However, in the beginning is less common and suggests that the speaker is looking a long way back into the past to the period of time immediately after something began: ’In the beginning, when the first settlers arrived, law and order didn’t exist.’
At the beginning refers to (1) the point in time when something begins: ’At the beginning of each lesson there is usually a revision exercise.’
(2) the place where something begins: ’At the beginning of the novel there is a long description of the farm where Daniel was born and grew up.’Unlike in the beginning , at the beginning is usually followed by of : ’at the beginning of the week/holiday/film’.

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2.
BAD: At the beginning I thought that the switch was broken but then I discovered it was a fuse.
GOOD: At first I thought that the switch was broken but then I discovered it was a fuse.

Usage Note:
See language note above

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

beginning the first part of something such as a story, event, or period of time:
The beginning of the movie is very violent.
Let’s go back to the beginning.
start the beginning of something, or the way something begins:
Tomorrow marks the start of the presidential election campaign.
It was not a good start to the day.
The runners lined up for the start of the race.
commencement formal the beginning of something – used especially in official contexts:
the commencement of the academic year
the commencement of the contract
origin the point from which something starts to exist:
He wrote a book about the origins of the universe.
The tradition has its origins in medieval times.
the onset of something the time when something bad begins, such as illness, old age, or cold weather:
the onset of winter
An active lifestyle can delay the onset of many diseases common to aging.
dawn literary the beginning of an important period of time in history:
People have worshipped gods since the dawn of civilization.
birth the beginning of something important that will change many people’s lives:
the birth of democracy in South Africa
the birth of the environmental movement

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

start to begin doing something:
I’m starting a new job next week.
It’s time we started.
begin to start doing something. Begin is more formal than start, and is used especially in written English:
He began to speak.
The orchestra began playing.
Shall we begin?
commence formal to start doing something:
The company will commence drilling next week.
Work was commenced on the next power station.
get down to something to finally start doing something, especially your work:
Come on, Sam – it’s time you got down to some homework.
We’d better get down to business.
set off to start a journey:
What time do you have to set off in the morning?
I usually set off for work at about 8.30.
set out to start a long journey:
The ship set out from Portsmouth on July 12th.
embark on something especially written to start something, especially something new, difficult, or exciting:
The Law Society has embarked on a major programme of reform.
Jamaica was embarking on a decade of musical creativity.
resume formal to start doing something again after stopping it or being interrupted:
Normal train services will be resumed on April 5th.
Trade was resumed after the end of the war.
get cracking informal to start doing something or going somewhere:
I think we should get cracking straightaway.
start/begin to begin:
What time does the film start?
open to start being shown to the public – used about a play, show, or exhibition:
Lloyd Webber’s new musical opened in London last week.
A major exhibition of her work will open in New York in November.
get under way to start happening or being done – used especially about something that is likely to last a long time:
Construction work is getting under way on a new train network.
Discussions concerning the plan got under way on April 2.
break out to start happening – used especially about a fire, a fight, war, or a disease:
Police were called in when fighting broke out in the crowd.
The blaze broke out on the third floor of the hotel.
kick off informal to start – used especially about a football game or a meeting:
The match is due to kick off this afternoon at Wembley Stadium.
What time will the celebrations kick off?
a good/great start
A 3-0 win is a good start for the team.
a flying start (=a very good start)
The appeal got off to a flying start at the weekend when the group held a raffle.
a promising start (=a good start that makes success seem likely)
Her teacher says she's made a promising start in learning Spanish.
a bad/poor/disastrous start
Things got off to a bad start when two people turned up late.
a rocky/shaky start (=a rather bad start)
After a shaky start, they managed two wins in five matches.
a disappointing start
He accepted full responsibility for the club’s disappointing start to the season.
a slow start
Work got off to a very slow start because of bad weather.
an auspicious/inauspicious start (=one that makes it seem likely that something will be good or bad)
His second term in office has got off to an extremely inauspicious start.
an early/late start
It was long trip so we had planned an early start.
get off to a good/bad etc start
On your first day at work, you want to get off to a good start.
make a good/bad/early etc start
He made a flying start at college, but then he didn't manage to keep it up.
have a good/bad etc start
We’ve had a disappointing start but we are hoping to improve.
beginning the first part of something such as a story, event, or period of time:
The beginning of the movie is very violent.
Let’s go back to the beginning.
commencement formal the beginning of something – used especially in official contexts:
the commencement of the academic year
the commencement of the contract
origin the point from which something starts to exist:
He wrote a book about the origins of the universe.
The tradition has its origins in medieval times.
the onset of something the time when something bad begins, such as illness, old age, or cold weather:
the onset of winter
An active lifestyle can delay the onset of many diseases common to aging.
dawn literary the beginning of an important period of time in history:
People have worshipped gods since the dawn of civilization.
birth the beginning of something important that will change many people’s lives:
the birth of democracy in South Africa
the birth of the environmental movement

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲