BEGINNING Synonyms: 256 Similar and Opposite Words

beginning 1 of 3

noun

bi-ˈgi-niŋ

Definition of beginning

as in start

the point at which something begins the actual beginning of the universe is still under debate, with some scientists continuing to uphold the big bang theory

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beginning

2 of 3

adjective

as in preparatory

coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows the beginning part of the book is a portrait of Europe on the eve of the World War I

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as in introductory

of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject a course in beginning geology for nonscience majors

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beginning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of begin

as in commencing

to take the first step in (a process or course of action) she began walking to work for exercise

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as in starting

to come into existence the storm began late in the day and lasted all night

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as in founding

to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of the religious sect was begun by a small breakaway faction

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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 beginning

Noun

The chemical reaction is only the beginning of the accounting. — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 From the beginning, every single example from its model line has been crafted by hand—using primarily ash, aluminum, and leather—and almost entirely by commission. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Goforth is hoping to be open by the spring of 2026, with remodeling plans for the tasting room in the very beginning stages. — Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025 Next week, Grizzly Bear headline the first show in a five-night run at New York’s Brooklyn Steel, the beginning leg of their first tour in six years. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 Oct. 2025

Verb

Building the infrastructure and beginning electric service in Davis would take years and could cost more than $25 million, Dame said. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026 Founded in 2009 by Baroness Valerie Amos and Colleen Amos, The Amos Bursary supports promising students through a five-year program, beginning in their final years of high school and continuing through university graduation. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beginning

Recent Examples of Synonyms for beginning

Noun

After the rocky start, Saturday night seemed to be going smoother, with a new ticket system and other changes.

— Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
From that inauspicious start, Yoshida built YKK, the company that today produces roughly half the world’s zippers.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of start

Adjective

The drawing may have been made as a preparatory study to show a prospective patron before Canaletto completed a related painting.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Canaletto expert Charles Beddington authenticated the drawing, which was likely a preparatory sketch for a painting last sold in 1995 for $354,000 (about $766,000 in today’s dollars).

— News Desk, Artforum, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of preparatory

Adjective

The basic model of competitive markets which one finds in an introductory economics textbook—where independent firms engage in cold arm’s-length transactions motivated by unadulterated self-interest—does not apply to the industry.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
JetBlue is offering some introductory fares for BlueFirst seats for select flights, including a $299 flight from Boston to Fort Lauderdale, a $249 option from New York to Fort Lauderdale and a $299 option from New York to Liberia, Costa Rica.

— Maggie Roth, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of introductory

Verb

Moody's, citing PitchBook data, said private equity distributions dropped from more than 30% of starting net asset value in 2022 to about 12% today.

— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Plasma will fully adopt the Wayland system and put support for starting new X11 sessions in Plasma to bed.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of starting

Adjective

There are also plans afoot by the French defense procurement agency (DGA) called SNA3G, which are preliminary plans for an eventual replacement of the Suffren-class in the future.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Martelly’s name was among 16 listed Friday on the Provisional Electoral Council’s website as having preliminary registered to run.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of preliminary

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“Beginning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beginning. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of beginning

noun

adjective

verb

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