Meaning of begin In English

• 0 to start to happen or exist:

  • What time does the concert begin?

  • The bridge was begun five years ago and the estimated cost has already doubled.

  • The film they want to watch begins at seven.

  • The meeting began promisingly, but then things started to go wrong.

• 1 to start to do something:

  • I began the book six months ago, but I can't seem to finish it.

  • [ + -ing verb ] Jane has just begun learning to drive.

  • If you want to learn to play a musical instrument, it might be a good idea to begin on something simple.

  • [ + to infinitive ] After waiting for half an hour she was beginning to get angry.

  • I have so much to tell you, I don't know where to begin.

• 2 to start speaking:

  • [ + speech ] "Well," he began. "I don't quite know how to tell you this."

• 3 to have something as the first part:

  • The word "cat" begins with the letter "c".

• 4 to do or be the first part of something that continues; start:

  • [ T ] He begins his new job on Monday.

  • [ I ] The movie begins at seven.

  • [ I ] I began by explaining why I had come.