Began
/bɪˈɡæn/
verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
To initiate or commence something.
/bɪˈɡæn/
verbneutralBeginner
General
To commence; to start.
The concert began promptly at 8:00.
💡 Simply: To start something.
More Examples
2
She began to cry.
How It's Used
General
"The meeting began at 2 pm."
Narrative
"The story began with a mysterious disappearance."
Past tense of "begin," from Old English "beginnan," ultimately of Germanic origin.
The word's usage has remained relatively consistent throughout history, maintaining its core meaning of starting or commencing.
Memory tip
Think of 'be' + 'gun' - to be armed and ready to start something.
Practice
begunbegane
Usage
70%Spoken
30%Written