Search

past participle of begin.
to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of some action; commence; start:
The story begins with their marriage.
to come into existence; arise; originate:
The custom began during the Civil War.
to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of (some action):
Begin the job tomorrow.
to originate; be the originator of:
civic leaders who began the reform movement.
to succeed to the slightest extent in (followed by an infinitive):
The money won’t even begin to cover expenses.
Contemporary Examples

In recent years, Sandra has begun taking portraits of the people at these gatherings.
Life After Death: Teen Survivor of a Massacre Turns Tragedy into Art Abigail Pesta March 5, 2012

But, then again, the changes in store under this papacy have only just begun.
Vatican Science on Christmas and Creationism Christopher Dickey December 21, 2013

Though the economy had begun growing again, the recovery was not yet a fact of life for most Americans.
Obama vs. FDR Jeff Shesol July 26, 2010

Iranian police forces have begun harsher crackdowns on protests, using tear gas to disperse crowds.
Explosive Protest and Police Brutality Videos from Iran The Daily Beast Video June 15, 2009

That was a reference to Tony Lazarro, the last boyfriend Casey had begun to spend a lot of time with.
In the Jury’s Hands Diane Dimond July 3, 2011

Historical Examples

I want to explain to you that the little girl had not begun with grammar.
A Little Girl in Old New York Amanda Millie Douglas

He had begun a Tragedy of Dion, but made small progress in it.
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. in Nine Volumes Samuel Johnson

“We have begun by being frank; we should continue so,” said the Secretary presently.
Before the Dawn Joseph Alexander Altsheler

For many days he was not seen in any of the haunts to which he had begun to return.
Deerbrook Harriet Martineau

Consequently ‘1601’ had not begun when Essex was already dead.
Sir Walter Ralegh William Stebbing

verb
the past participle of begin
verb -gins, -ginning, -gan, -gun
to start or cause to start (something or to do something)
to bring or come into being for the first time; arise or originate
to start to say or speak
(used with a negative) to have the least capacity (to do something): he couldn’t begin to compete with her
to begin with, in the first place
noun
Menachem (məˈnɑːkɪm). 1913–92, Israeli statesman, born in Poland. In Palestine after 1942, he became a leader of the militant Zionists; prime minister of Israel (1977–83); Nobel peace prize jointly with Sadat 1978. In 1979 he concluded the Camp David treaty with Anwar Sadat of Egypt
v.

past participle of begin.
v.

Old English beginnan “to begin, attempt, undertake,” a rare word beside the more usual form onginnan (class III strong verb; past tense ongann, past participle ongunnen); from bi- (see be-) + West Germanbic *ginnan, of obscure meaning and found only in compounds, perhaps “to open, open up” (cf. Old High German in-ginnan “to cut open, open up,” also “begin, undertake”), with sense evolution from “open” to “begin.” Cognates elsewhere in Germanic include Old Frisian biginna “to begin,” Middle Dutch beghinnen, Old High German beginnan, German beginnen, Old Frisian bijenna “to begin,” Gothic duginnan.

begin to see daylight
begin to see the light
begin with