1
as in commenced
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
2
as in started
to come into existence
the storm began late in the day and lasted all night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in founded
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of began
Many Federal Aviation Administration facilities are so critically short on controllers that just a few absences can cause disruptions, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that more air traffic controllers have been calling in sick since the shutdown began.
—
Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
That is when the gruelling road back to fitness began.
—Tom Burrows, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Springsteen has been open over the years about navigating depression, which began to get serious during his early 30s.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
What began as a simple tile project has evolved into a full-time career as a DIY enthusiast.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Geiger said many stores began offering discounts and clearance on select Halloween items even in early October.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025
The plant has been without power from the electricity network for four weeks, the longest blackout since the war began.
—Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Regulators say more crashes may come Tesla's latest FSD software update arrived just days before the investigation began.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
This new jackpot is the 10th largest since the Mega Millions game began in 2002.
—Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Oct. 2025
Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
That is when the gruelling road back to fitness began.
—Tom Burrows, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Springsteen has been open over the years about navigating depression, which began to get serious during his early 30s.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
What began as a simple tile project has evolved into a full-time career as a DIY enthusiast.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Geiger said many stores began offering discounts and clearance on select Halloween items even in early October.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025
The plant has been without power from the electricity network for four weeks, the longest blackout since the war began.
—Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Regulators say more crashes may come Tesla's latest FSD software update arrived just days before the investigation began.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
This new jackpot is the 10th largest since the Mega Millions game began in 2002.
—Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for began
Verb
-
The split commenced a contentious court battle in which the former model requested $175,057 in child support payments, a $45,000 increase from a tentative payment order, during a two-day Santa Barbara court hearing in August, according to People.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Thus commenced an awkward situation in which the next Rutgers president would inherit an athletic director who had just been hired by his predecessor.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Team-mates who had started the match were entitled to a greater share of the blame.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
In 1977, Rosalynn Carter started the tradition of the office of the first lady being located in the wing, alongside the social secretary.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The oldest, Banco Santander, was founded in 1857.—
Adam Gale,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The online education company, founded 20 years ago, has been hit by the rise of generative AI software tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, which have become increasingly popular among students.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The performance opened with a black and white sequence, before partner Emma Slater joined him for a dramatic choreography.—
Brianne Tracy,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In 2014, the CCP opened the space sector to private capital, and in 2019 the China Commercial Space Alliance was launched to support that commercial growth both within China and globally.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The myth originated during World War II when Londoners sheltering from German warplanes in subway stations had to endure bites from mosquitoes.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The hypothesis is that the object that has recently been ripped apart by the white dwarf could have originated from this debris disk of material that survived the death of the star.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Having established himself as a marine biologist and initiated a link with the greatest scientist of his time, Haeckel rapidly ascended to international prominence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Ino also announced that to recognize the outstanding efforts of film commissions, which play an indispensable role in location shooting, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has established a new Minister’s Award this year.—
Mark Schilling,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The outing comes just hours after the Duchess of Sussex launched her first holiday collection for As ever, which includes special nods to Prince Harry and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In May 2024, Duchovny launched Fail Better, a podcast produced by Lemonada Media that explores failure in all its forms — from the professional to the personal — and the ways in which failure, shame, and falling short shape our lives.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Controversy arose earlier this year after residents, a council member and the mayor declared a cooling station set up for homeless residents and others without adequate heating and cooling as unacceptable.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Wise told the Statesman by phone that the arrest arose from an argument with his then-wife.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Began.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/began. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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