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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 The general on sale for tickets will begin April 17 at noon (Melbourne), 1 p.m. (Sydney) and 2 p.m. (Brisbane) local time, respectively. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025 Manufacturing is not the ticket to success Employment in the US manufacturing industry began to decline after reaching a peak in the late 1970s, according to Labor Department data, shrinking by an even faster pace around the turn of the century. Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025 Meanwhile, in mid-February, Williams’s colleagues at the Puget Sound V.A. began to get laid off. E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2025 Desir had won 24 consecutive matches to begin the season. Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for begin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for begin
Verb
  • Before Emmerich’s exit, the option to the game were re-upped and talks with Jason Momoa commenced.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The filing indicates that the company has not commenced any operations and has not generated any revenues.
    Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The pause came hours after the European Union voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods, starting April 15, in response to Trump’s previously announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum—which remain in effect.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, lost hundreds of trees following the destruction from Hurricane Helene last fall, with players commenting on it ahead of the Masters starting this week.
    Fox News Staff, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Regional hubs have been established in North America, China, France, Sweden, and Spain to cover the specific requirements and automotive regulations of the respective countries.
    Jeanette Rohr, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Robertson, a former sheriff’s deputy, has been the leading opponent against past measures to compensate people and to establish a law to let legal experts make that decision instead of legislators.
    Charlotte Kramon, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Basehor’s population has more than tripled since 2000, and residents will no longer have to drive to Bonner Springs or KCK after the Fareway opens.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Lecture on history of Umatilla Author and local historian Richard Cronin will present a lecture on the founding of Umatilla and the railroad that opened the region at 2 p.m. April 7 at the Umatilla Public Library, 412 Hatfield Drive.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon TV series originated a couple of years ago when Sony regained the rights to the books through a first-look deal with Vertigo and tapped Ning to adapt it as part of an overall deal.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Now, analysis of the covers reveals the distant lands — and animals — where the chemises originate.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In severe weather conditions, forcing or lift mechanisms, such as a cold front, dry line, or terrain, are needed to trigger rising air and initiate thunderstorm development.
    Alana Wise, NPR, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Cunha thrives in dropping deep — sometimes all the way into his own half — and initiating moves like the one below against Southampton from last November.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Your passion must propel you forward when obstacles arise.
    Jay Ruderman, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Taking the time to prepare now ensures that when the opportunity to sell a business arises, the business is in a position to attract serious buyers and command the highest possible price.
    Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • That policy was targeted last year in a letter sent to Disney’s top brass by America First Legal Foundation, a conservative group founded by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Alon-Lee Green, the founding co-director of Standing Together, a progressive grassroots movement, told CNN that young people aren’t at fault for the extremist attitudes that are dividing wider Israeli society.
    Kara Fox, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Begin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begin. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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