begin
gb/bɪɡˈɪn/ us/bɪɡˈɪn/
A2
English
~ 300
elkezd, elkezdődik, felmerül, kezdődik, adódik, kialakul, létrejön, vmivel kezdődik
VERB
A2
1
elkezd
A1
elkezdődik
A2
Usage pattern:
to begin [doing something]
We will begin the meeting at 9 a.m.
A megbeszélést délelőtt 9-kor kezdjük el.
She began working on the project yesterday.
Tegnap kezdett el dolgozni a projekten.
The class begins after lunch.
He began to speak but stopped suddenly.
Let's begin with a short introduction.
Learner examples
The movie will begin soon.
A film hamarosan elkezdődik.
I begin my homework after dinner.
Vacsora után kezdem el a házi feladatomat.
They begin to play at 3 p.m.
We begin our trip tomorrow.
She begins school next week.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'begin' with 'start' in fixed expressions; some collocations prefer one over the other (e.g., 'start a car' not 'begin a car').
Meaning
to start doing something
Collocations
begin work
|begin a journey
|begin to understand
|begin again
|begin with
Synonyms
start (Most common equivalent; slightly less formal than 'begin'.)
Antonyms
finish (Opposite in terms of completing or ending an action.)
Themes
daily life
|time
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To start doing something or for something to start happening.
To start or cause something to start happening.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[something] begins
The festival began in the 18th century.
A fesztivál a 18. században jött létre.
A new chapter in her life was beginning.
Új fejezet kezdődött az életében.
The rainy season begins in June.
The story begins in a small town.
Learner examples
The class begins at eight.
Az óra nyolckor kezdődik.
Summer begins in June.
A nyár júniusban kezdődik.
The game begins now.
A new year begins today.
Meaning
to start existing
Collocations
life begins
|story begins
|era begins
|season begins
Synonyms
originate (More formal; often used in historical or abstract contexts.)
Antonyms
end (Marks the conclusion or cessation of existence.)
Themes
history
|time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To start to exist or happen for the first time.
To come into being or existence; to originate.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
[something] begins with [something]
The book begins with a mysterious letter.
A könyv egy titokzatos levéllel kezdődik.
Her speech began with a joke.
A beszéde egy viccel kezdődött.
The movie begins with a chase scene.
Learner examples
The story begins with a boy.
A történet egy fiúval kezdődik.
My day begins with coffee.
A napom kávéval kezdődik.
The lesson begins with a song.
Meaning
to be the first part of something
Collocations
begin with a quote
|begin with an introduction
|book begins with
Synonyms
open with (Often used for performances or events to describe the first act or element.)
Antonyms
end with (Describes the final part rather than the first.)
Themes
communication
|arts
|time
Definition
To be the first part of something like a book, film, or talk.
To form or mark the opening part of something, such as a text, speech, or event.
Grammar
Dictionary form
begin
IPA
GB/bɪɡˈɪn/
US/bɪɡˈɪn/
Syllables & stress
be - gin (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (gin)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: begin
- 3rd Person Singular: begins
- Present Participle: beginning
- Past: began
- Past Participle: begun
Word family
Forms
begins
verb
beginning
verb
began
verb
begun
verb
Core family
beginner
noun A2
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: beginning Verb
- Irregular past: began Verb
- Irregular past participle: begun Verb
Expressions
begin again
1/bɪɡˈɪn əɡˈɛn/
fixed phrase
to start over again
To start doing something again after stopping or failing.
Examples
- After the interruption, she began again from the top.
- If you make a mistake, just begin again.
begin with
1/bɪɡˈɪn wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
to start from a point/item
To start from a certain thing or time.
Examples
- Let's begin with some background information.
- We began with an easy exercise before moving on.
to begin with
1/tə bɪɡˈɪn wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
as the first reason or fact
Used to say the first reason or fact about something.
Examples
- To begin with, we don't have enough money for the trip.
- I didn't like the job to begin with.