beginner

noun

be·​gin·​ner bi-ˈgi-nər How to pronounce beginner (audio)
bē-
Synonyms of beginnernext
: one that begins something
especially : an inexperienced person

Synonyms of beginner

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Examples of beginner in a Sentence

although our son is only a beginner at swimming, he is making excellent progress
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The kid was encouraged to dominate 5U beginner soccer kids by a father who yelled to keep the ball. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026 Classes range from beginner-friendly lessons, like learning how to use a machine, to teaching intermediate skills, like hemming pants or installing a zipper. — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026 The Taggart Lake Loop and Lakeshore Trail are considered beginner-friendly options. — Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 Crucially, Muse—which comes with a cuddly avatar—was designed by Meta to be beginner-friendly, and to win over people unfamiliar with AI. — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beginner

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beginner was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing beginner

Rhymes for beginner

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Browse Nearby Words

Begin
beginner
beginner's luck
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Cite this Entry

“Beginner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beginner. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

beginner

noun
be·​gin·​ner bi-ˈgin-ər How to pronounce beginner (audio)
: a person who is beginning something or doing something for the first time : an inexperienced person
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