Synonyms of beginning

beginning 1 of 3

noun

bi-ˈgi-niŋ 

as in start

the point at which something begins

the actual beginning of the universe is still under debate, with some scientists continuing to uphold the big bang theory

Synonyms & Similar Words

• start
• inception
• commencement
• onset
• alpha
• launch
• outset
• dawn
• genesis
• morning
• birth
• infancy
• baseline
• threshold
• day one
• kickoff
• inauguration
• get-go
• initiation
• origination
• incipiency
• nascence
• incipience
• founding
• nascency
• origin
• first base
• arrival
• spring
• creation
• opening
• emergence
• dawning
• drawing board
• debut
• institution
• advent
• well
• ground zero
• source
• germ
• childhood
• cradle
• fountain
• square one
• appearance
• root
• youth
• seedbed
• fountainhead
• wellspring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• end
• conclusion
• ending
• close
• period
• completion
• closing
• finish
• stop
• termination
• closure
• cessation
• omega
• finale
• windup

beginning

2 of 3

adjective

1

as in preparatory

coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows

the beginning part of the book is a portrait of Europe on the eve of the World War I

Synonyms & Similar Words

• preparatory
• preliminary
• introductory
• primary
• early
• preparative
• prefatory
• precursory
• preparing
• prelusive
• introducing
• prelim
• previous
• basic
• prior
• elementary
• preceding
• ahead
• fundamental
• warning
• prefacing
• readying
• premonitory
• former

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• following
• subsequent
• after
• behind

2

as in introductory

of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject

a course in beginning geology for nonscience majors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• introductory
• elementary
• basic
• rudimentary
• fundamental
• underlying
• essential
• basal
• elemental
• simple
• preliminary
• rudimental
• prime
• abecedarian
• primary
• meat-and-potatoes
• preparatory
• primeval
• primordial
• uncomplicated
• crucial
• primal
• important
• primitive
• key
• crude
• rude

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advanced
• complex
• extensive
• sophisticated
• detailed
• higher
• complicated
• high
• elaborate
• evolved
• developed
• intricate
• refined
• convoluted

beginning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of begin

1

as in commencing

to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

she began walking to work for exercise

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commencing
• starting
• opening
• launching
• falling (to)
• entering (into or upon)
• creating
• striking (into)
• embarking (on or upon)
• getting off
• initiating
• getting to
• originating
• leading off
• getting going
• organizing
• setting about
• establishing
• generating
• kicking off
• adopting
• inaugurating
• founding
• inventing
• instituting
• pioneering
• spawning
• innovating
• taking on
• taking up
• embracing
• getting down (to)
• setting up
• getting around (to)
• fathering
• getting round (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• finishing
• concluding
• terminating
• stopping
• halting
• ceasing
• closing
• completing
• discontinuing
• quitting
• laying off
• leaving
• abandoning
• desisting
• destroying
• knocking off
• abolishing
• forsaking
• extinguishing
• phasing out
• exterminating
• demolishing

2

as in starting

to come into existence

the storm began late in the day and lasted all night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• starting
• commencing
• originating
• arising
• appearing
• being
• forming
• emerging
• arriving
• dawning
• springing
• existing
• living
• breaking
• lasting
• continuing
• actualizing
• setting in
• materializing
• engendering
• breathing
• surviving
• coming on
• subsisting
• shaping (up)
• persisting
• enduring
• coalescing
• cohering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• stopping
• ceasing
• finishing
• concluding
• terminating
• halting
• discontinuing
• quitting
• disappearing
• vanishing
• dying
• dissolving
• evaporating
• departing
• expiring
• desisting
• passing away
• perishing

3

as in founding

to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of

the religious sect was begun by a small breakaway faction

Synonyms & Similar Words

• founding
• establishing
• initiating
• pioneering
• introducing
• launching
• creating
• starting
• instituting
• inaugurating
• planting
• originating
• constituting
• constructing
• organizing
• innovating
• developing
• setting up
• inventing
• authoring
• manufacturing
• thinking (up)
• devising
• producing
• cooking (up)
• expanding
• conceiving
• funding
• financing
• making up
• enlarging
• fathering
• subsidizing
• concocting
• contriving
• arranging
• endowing
• fabricating
• systematizing
• relaunching
• reinstituting
• reinitiating
• refounding
• putting up
• systemizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closing (down)
• ending
• shutting (up)
• phasing out
• abolishing
• finishing
• stopping
• terminating
• halting
• nullifying
• annulling
• annihilating
• winding up
• rounding (off or out)
• wrapping up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of beginning

Noun

But this is just the beginning. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026

Getty Images | Reuters The more than 20,000 potential job cuts Meta and Microsoft revealed on Thursday, months after Amazon announced its most widespread layoffs ever, may only be the beginning. —Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026

Adjective

A lot of the dialogue existed and the crew had the beginning demos of the songs to work with. —Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Now, with the injury to Sanders, Sauls to the Dolphins makes perfect sense for the beginning weeks of the season. —Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025

Verb

All residential outdoor burn permits across San Diego County will be suspended beginning next month, Cal Fire officials said Friday. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026

Sixth-grader Jackson Casnave, 12, who was sitting directly behind the driver, noticed the bus beginning to swerve. —Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026