English Dictionary
Definition beginning in British English
beginning
noun
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.
These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
noun
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
Don’t confuse these two phrases:
▪ at the beginning
▪ in the beginning
At the beginning is used to refer to the start or first part of something. It is usually followed by of.
In the beginning means ‘at first’, and it usually suggests a contrast with a later situation. It is not usually followed by of.
✗ Children are still in the beginning of their lives.
✓ Children are still at the beginning of their lives.
✗ In the beginning of the last century, thousands of people left Sweden in search of a new life.
✓ At the beginning of the last century, thousands of people left Sweden in search of a new life.
✗ At the beginning, computers were only used for the organization of information.
✓ In the beginning, computers were only used for the organization of information.
✗ At the beginning, human beings had a very primitive way of life, living in caves.
✓ In the beginning, human beings had a very primitive way of life, living in caves.
Note that the correct spelli
✗ In the begining the main energy source was wood.
✓ In the beginning the main energy source was wood.
the first part of something
the first part of a period of time
It was the beginning of a friendship that would last his whole life.
In the beginning I found it hard to concentrate, but now it's much easier.
someone's background, for example the social class that they originally came from, or their first job
The company has come a long way since its humble beginnings 70 years ago.
the background or origin of something, for example where it started, how it started etc
It was a decade that saw the beginnings of the space programme.
We may now have the beginnings of an agreement.
