BEGIN Synonyms: 132 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'begin' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of begin are commence , inaugurate , initiate , start , and usher in . While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," begin , start , and commence are often interchangeable, with begin , opposed to end , being the most general. // begin a trip // began dancing

Q: How is 'commence' related to other words for 'begin'?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start . // commence firing // commenced a conversation

Q: When could 'inaugurate' be used to replace 'begin'?

The words inaugurate and begin are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance. // the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

Q: When would 'initiate' be a good substitute for 'begin'?

While the synonyms initiate and begin are close in meaning, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue. // initiated diplomatic contacts

Q: Where would 'start' be a reasonable alternative to 'begin'?

The synonyms start and begin are sometimes interchangeable, but start , opposed to stop , applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages. // the work started slowly

Q: How are the words 'usher in' and 'inaugurate' related as synonyms of 'begin'?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate . // ushered in a period of economic decline

begin

verb

bi-ˈgin

Definition of begin

as in to commence

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to start

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to establish

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word begin different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of begin are commence, inaugurate, initiate, start, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip

began dancing

How is commence related to other words for begin?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing

commenced a conversation

When could inaugurate be used to replace begin?

The words inaugurate and begin are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

When would initiate be a good substitute for begin?

While the synonyms initiate and begin are close in meaning, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

Where would start be a reasonable alternative to begin?

The synonyms start and begin are sometimes interchangeable, but start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of begin?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

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 begin With four political factions working together to defeat Israel’s right-wing Likud Party in upcoming elections, there is a real possibility that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may lose power for the first time since the Gaza war began. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026 Below are Dana’s prepared remarks, which begin with the story of enrolling in the clinical trial. — Stat Staff, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026 Israel began demolishing buildings and forcing residents to evacuate a neighborhood in the occupied West Bank on Friday, hours after two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an Israeli military checkpoint, killing two soldiers. — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 Inside the stadium, the word began to spread in the crowd and then, eventually, onto the field. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for begin

Recent Examples of Synonyms for begin

Verb

Or to be up high and see that, down below, a town is just a grid spread out on a map and nothing more, a grid that flickers with lights that spark on as the darkness commences.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
The process, in other words, commences with the industrial production of miniature supernovas.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of commence

Verb

Charlotte has many more chances to right its wrongs, of course, starting with home games Saturday and Monday.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
And one health care consultancy that finds doctors and mental health care for wealthy families charges retainers starting at $30,000 for 50 hours.

— Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of start

Verb

Petersen’s research established the concept of mild cognitive impairment, which lies between healthy cognitive aging and dementia.

— Richard Sima, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Beyond payment speed, Mastercard is also looking to incorporate blockchain and identity data to establish the same level of trust expected across other payment systems, Driver said.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of establish

Verb

The campus opened with six students this year, but Castello has big plans for it.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Many younger consumers are gravitating toward physical products that offer experiences their phones can’t match, which happens to open a door for real family bonding.

— Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of open

Verb

So a quick look at where an app supposedly originated may not tell the whole story.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Two flights from the United States arrived in Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Friday as well, originating from Washington Dulles International Airport.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of originate

Verb

The system monitors equipment conditions, identifies abnormalities, and can initiate automated responses.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
All this, not to mention the famous literary lunches initiated by Christina Foyle in 1930 and a fixture in the literary calendar for eighty years.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of initiate

Verb

When the opportunity arises to work in person, however, Chater welcomes it.

— Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 21 Oct. 2026
But because New Mexico was not part of the settlement, the state's data privacy case that arose from Meta's Cambridge Analytica scandal proceeded to trial in September.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of arise

Verb

Randsburg, which was once a booming California Gold Rush town founded in 1895, has seen most of its residents leave over the years.

— Joy Benedict, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
At the time, Truell hadn’t founded a company; but three years later, the venture capitalist persuaded her firm, BoxGroup, to invest in the Gen Z engineering savant’s nascent business.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of found

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begging off

begin

beginner

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Style

“Begin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begin. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of begin

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