beginning

be‧gin‧ning S1 W2 /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/ BrE AmE noun [countable usually singular]
[Word Family: noun: ↑beginner, ↑beginning; verb: ↑begin]
1. the start or first part of an event, story, period of time etc
beginning of
She’s been here since the beginning of the year.
There’s a short poem at the beginning of every chapter.
From the beginning of my career as a journalist, I’ve been writing about gender issues.
I thought he loved me; perhaps he did in the beginning.
That chance meeting marked the beginning of a long and happy relationship.
This is just the beginning of a new and different life for you.
I said he would cause trouble, right from the beginning.
I opposed it from the very beginning.
The whole trip was a disaster from beginning to end.
I feel like I’ve been offered a new beginning.
Could we start at the beginning? Tell me where you first met him.
2. beginnings [plural] the early signs or stages of something that later develops into something bigger or more important
beginnings of
I think I have the beginnings of a cold.
from humble/small beginnings
He rose from humble beginnings to great wealth.
3. the beginning of the end the time when something good starts to end
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ a new beginning The country needed a new government and a new beginning.
■ verbs
▪ mark the beginning of something (also signal/herald the beginning of something) (=show that something is starting to happen) This event marked the beginning of a ten-year worldwide depression.
▪ see the beginning of something (=be the time when something important starts to happen) The 1970s saw the beginning of a technological revolution.
■ phrases
▪ right at/from the beginning (=used for emphasis) That’s what I suggested right at the beginning.
▪ at/from the very beginning (=used for emphasis) He had been lying to me from the very beginning.
▪ start at the beginning (=start a story or activity at the first part) Just start at the beginning and tell us exactly what happened.
▪ from beginning to end The whole project was full of problems from beginning to end.
▪ something is just/only the beginning (=used to emphasize that many more things will happen) Signing the contract is just the beginning of a long process.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ beginning the first part of something such as a story, event, or period of time: The beginning of the movie is very violent. | Let’s go back to the beginning.
▪ start the beginning of something, or the way something begins: Tomorrow marks the start of the presidential election campaign. | It was not a good start to the day. | The runners lined up for the start of the race.
▪ commencement formal the beginning of something – used especially in official contexts: the commencement of the academic year | the commencement of the contract
▪ origin the point from which something starts to exist: He wrote a book about the origins of the universe. | The tradition has its origins in medieval times.
▪ the onset of something the time when something bad begins, such as illness, old age, or cold weather: the onset of winter | An active lifestyle can delay the onset of many diseases common to aging.
▪ dawn literary the beginning of an important period of time in history: People have worshipped gods since the dawn of civilization.
▪ birth the beginning of something important that will change many people’s lives: the birth of democracy in South Africa | the birth of the environmental movement

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

beginning

be·gin·ning [beginning beginnings] [bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ] [bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ] noun
1. countable, usually singular ~ (of sth) the time when sth starts; the first part of an event, a story, etc
• We're going to Japan at the beginning of July.
• She's been working there since the beginning of last summer.
• We missed the beginning of the movie.
• Let's start again from the beginning.
• The birth of their first child marked the beginning of a new era in their married life.

• I've read the whole book from beginning to end and still can't understand it. At the beginning (of) is used for the time and place when something begins. In the beginning = at first and suggests a contrast with a later situation.

2. beginnings plural the first or early ideas, signs or stages of sth
• Did democracy have its beginnings in ancient Greece?
• He built up his multimillion-pound music business from small beginnings.
Idiom: beginning of the end
Thesaurus:
beginning noun
1. usually sing.
• the beginning of July/the movie
start • • opening • • birth • |formal outset • • onset • |literary dawn • |(in football) kick-off •
Opp: end, Opp: ending
at the beginning/start/opening/outset/onset/birth/dawn (of sth)
in the beginning
from the (very) beginning/start/outset
Beginning or start? Compare:
• We missed the beginning of the movie (= the first few scenes).
• We'll miss the start of the game (= the moment when it starts; the kick-off).
• from start to finish
• from beginning to end
¤ from start to end
• ¤ from beginning to finish
:
• the beginning/start of the day/week/year/century/a new era
• at the beginning of July/summer /the 90s
¤ at the start of July/summer/the 90s:
• I want to make an early start
¤ I want to make an early beginning.
2. beginnings pl.
• From these small beginnings it grew into the vast company we know today.
origin/origins • • source • • root • • starting point •
Opp: end, Opp: ending
have its beginnings/origin/source/roots in sth
from these/this beginnings/source/starting point
Example Bank:
• From these small beginnings it grew into the vast company we know today.
• I disliked her from the very beginning.
• I'm paid at the beginning of each month.
• In the beginning I found the course very difficult.
• It was an auspicious beginning to his long career.
• She spoke of a new beginning for the nation.
• Tell me the whole story, right from the beginning.
• That day was the beginning of the end of our friendship.
• The play was nonsense from beginning to end.
• The society had its early beginnings in discussion groups.
• These changes are just the beginning: much more is to come.
• This invention marked the beginning of the modern age.
• a custom that traces its beginnings to the 15th century
• I've read the whole book from beginning to end.
• Let's start again from the beginning.
• She's been working there since the beginning of last summer.
• We're going to Japan at the beginning of July.

• the beginning/start of the day/week/year/century/a new era

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

beginning / bɪˈɡɪn.ɪŋ / noun

A2 [ C usually singular , U ] the first part of something or the start of something:

Notes on how to use this dictionary can be found at the beginning of the book.

She sat down and read the book straight through from beginning to end .

I enjoyed my job at/in the beginning (= when I started it) , but I'm bored with it now.

[ C often plural ] the origin of something, or the place, time, or way in which something started:

The city had its beginnings in Roman times.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

beginning

[bɪgɪ̱nɪŋ]
♦♦♦
beginnings
1) N-COUNT: usu sing The beginning of an event or process is the first part of it.
  This was also the beginning of her recording career...
  Think of this as a new beginning.
  Syn:
  start
  Ant:
  end
2) N-PLURAL: usu the N, oft N of n The beginnings of something are the signs or events which form the first part of it.
  I had the beginnings of a headache...
  The discussions were the beginnings of a dialogue with Moscow.
3) N-SING: the N The beginning of a period of time is the time at which it starts.
  The wedding will be at the beginning of March.
  Ant:
  end
4) N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N of n The beginning of a piece of written material is the first words or sentences of it.
  ...the question which was raised at the beginning of this chapter.
  Ant:
  end
5) N-PLURAL: usu with supp If you talk about the beginnings of a person, company, or group, you are referring to their backgrounds or origins.
  His views come from his own humble beginnings.
6) ADJ: ADJ n You use beginning to describe someone who is in the early stages of learning to do something.
  The people that she had in her classroom were beginning learners.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹be·gin·ning /bɪˈgɪnɪŋ/ noun, pl -nings
1 [count] : the point or time at which something begins : a starting point - usually singular
• He has been working there since the beginning of the year.
• A poem was recited at the beginning of the wedding ceremony.
• It was clear from the (very) beginning that she would eventually succeed.
• The company was very small in the beginning [=when it began], but it eventually became a giant corporation.
• The argument marked the beginning of the end of their marriage. [=the argument was the start of a series of events that led to the end of their marriage]
2 [count] : the first part of something
• Go back to the beginning of the song.
• We were late, so we missed the beginning of the movie.
• The changes that have been made so far are just/only the beginning. There are many more changes still to come.
3 beginnings [plural]
a : an early stage or period
• I have the beginnings of a sore throat. [=my throat is starting to feel sore]
b : the origins or background of a person or thing
• He came from humble beginnings.
• the company's modest beginnings in an old warehouse
• The organization had its beginnings [=began] in a small Midwestern town.