beginning

The first part of something, before the middle and the end.

• I missed the beginning of the film.
• Read the story from the beginning.
• The beginning of the book is very funny.

How to use it: at the beginning of something (Her name appears at the beginning of the letter.); from the beginning (Please play the song from the beginning.)

Similar words: start, opening

Opposites: end

Common phrases: beginning of something, at the beginning, from the beginning

The act or moment of starting something.

• Today marks the beginning of spring.
• The move offered her a new beginning.
• We celebrated the beginning of the project.

How to use it: beginning of something (The ceremony marked the beginning of the festival.)

Similar words: start, commencement

Opposites: end

Common phrases: new beginning, beginning of something, mark a beginning

The source or cause from which something develops.

• That argument was the beginning of their feud.
• The business grew from humble beginnings.
• Nobody knows the beginning of this tradition.

How to use it: beginning of something (The discovery marked the beginning of a new industry.)

Similar words: origin, source

Common phrases: beginning of something, humble beginning, small beginning

A small first part or early form of something that may develop further.

• These sketches are the beginnings of a design.
• We found the beginnings of a settlement near the river.
• Her notes contain the beginnings of a novel.

How to use it: beginnings of something (The children learned the beginnings of arithmetic.)

Similar words: rudiment, germ

Common phrases: beginnings of something, small beginning, early beginning

At the start of something longer.

• Read the beginning paragraph first.
• The beginning pages explain the main problem.
• Her name appears in the beginning section.

Similar words: initial, opening

Opposites: final

Common phrases: beginning paragraph, beginning section, beginning pages