beginning

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noun

British English pronunciation: beginning

/bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

singular	beginning
plural	beginnings

Related dictionary definitions

begin verb

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1
[countable] [usually singular] the first part of something
beginning of:
There is no need to start at the beginning of each section.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of beginning
1. a.
  the first part of a period of time
  beginning of:
  I’ll be away for two weeks at the beginning of April.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of beginning
2. b.
  the first part of an event or process
  beginning of:
  It was the beginning of a friendship that would last his whole life.
  from the very beginning/right from the beginning (=from the exact point when something starts):
  He knew they’d be friends from the very beginning.
  from beginning to end:
  If it’s anything like last year’s party, it’ll be dull from beginning to end.
  mark the beginning of something:
  This success marked the beginning of a new phase in his career.
  new beginning:
  To me, this moment was both an ending and a new beginning.
  in the beginning:
  In the beginning I found it hard to concentrate, but now it’s much easier.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of beginning
2
beginnings
[plural] someone’s background, for example the social class that they originally came from, or their first job
The company has come a long way since its humble beginnings 70 years ago.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of beginning
1. a.
  the background or origin of something, for example where it started, how it started etc
  It was a decade that saw the beginnings of the space programme.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of beginning
2. b.
  the first signs that something is starting to happen or exist
  the beginnings of something:
  We may now have the beginnings of an agreement.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of beginning

phrase

the beginning of the end
the time when something starts to end, or starts to get worse
The argument was the beginning of the end as far as their relationship was concerned.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of beginning

Get It Right!: beginning

Don’t confuse these two phrases:

▪ at the beginning

▪ in the beginning

At the beginning is used to refer to the start or first part of something. It is usually followed by of.

In the beginning means ‘at first’, and it usually suggests a contrast with a later situation. It is not usually followed by of.

✗ Children are still in the beginning of their lives.

✓ Children are still at the beginning of their lives.

✗ In the beginning of the last century, thousands of people left Sweden in search of a new life.

✓ At the beginning of the last century, thousands of people left Sweden in search of a new life.

✗ At the beginning, computers were only used for the organization of information.

✓ In the beginning, computers were only used for the organization of information.

✗ At the beginning, human beings had a very primitive way of life, living in caves.

✓ In the beginning, human beings had a very primitive way of life, living in caves.

Note that the correct spelling is beginning: it has a double ‘n’ and only one ‘g’:

✗ In the begining the main energy source was wood.

✓ In the beginning the main energy source was wood.

This is the British English definition of beginning. View American English definition of beginning.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

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