begin

Universal Words 1 to start doing sth; to do the first part of sth: [VN] We began work on the project in May. * I began (= started reading) this novel last month and I still haven't finished it. * He always begins his lessons with a warm-up exercise. * She began by thanking us all for coming. * He began his political career as a student (= when he was a student). * [V] Shall I begin? * Let's begin at page 9. * [Vtoinf] I began to feel dizzy. * At last the guests began to arrive. * She began to cry. * It was beginning to snow. * I was beginning to think you'd never come. * [V-ing] Everyone began talking at once. * When will you begin recruiting? 2 [V] to start to happen or exist, especially from a particular time: When does the concert begin? * Work on the new bridge is due to begin in September. * The evening began well. 3 ~ as sth [V] to be sth first, before becoming sth else: He began as an actor, before starting to direct films. * What began as a minor scuffle turned into a full-scale riot. 4 [V] to have sth as the first part or the point where sth starts: Use 'an' before words beginning with a vowel. * 'I'm thinking of a country in Asia.' 'What does it begin with (= what is the first letter)?' * Each chapter begins with a quotation. * Where does Europe end and Asia begin? * The path begins at Livingston village. 5 [Vspeech] to start speaking: 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, 'welcome to the Town Hall.' 6 to start or make sth start for the first time: [V] The school began in 1920, with only ten pupils. * [VN] He began a new magazine on post-war architecture. 7 [Vtoinf] not ~ to make no attempt to do sth or have no chance of doing sth: I can't begin to thank you enough. * He didn't even begin to understand my problem. IDIOMS to begin with 1 at first: I found it tiring to begin with but I soon got used to it. * We'll go slowly to begin with. 2 used to introduce the first point you want to make: 'What was it you didn't like?' 'Well, to begin with, our room was far too small.' moreatCHARITY ______________________________ WHICHWORD? begin / start There is not much difference in meaning between begin and start, though start is more common in spoken English: What time does the concert start/begin? * She started/began working here three months ago. Begin is often used when you are describing a series of events: The story begins on the island of Corfu. Start, but not begin, can also mean 'to start a journey', 'to start something happening' or 'to start a machine working': We'll need to start at 7.00. * Who do you think started the fire? * The car won't start. You can use either an infinitive or a form with -ing after begin and start, with no difference in meaning: I didn't start worrying/to worry until she was 2 hours late. After the forms beginning and starting, the -ing form of the verb is not normally used: It's starting/beginning to rain. * _I_t_'_s_ _s_t_a_r_t_i_n_g_/_b_e_g_i_n_n_i_n_g_ _r_a_i_n_i_n_g. see also COMMENCE ______________________________