/bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/ noun
the start or first part of an event, story, period of time etc
VERBS
mark the beginning of sth (=be the beginning of something)
This event marked the beginning of a ten-year worldwide depression.
signal/herald the beginning of sth (=show that something will happen soon)
The release of Mandela signalled the beginning of the end of South Africa’s racist system.
see the beginning of sth (=be the time when something important starts to happen)
The 1970s saw the beginning of a technological revolution.
ADJECTIVES
a new beginning
The country needed a new government and a new beginning.
Don’t say a fresh beginning. Say a new beginning or a fresh start.
PREPOSITIONS
at the beginning
The store opened at the beginning of February.
There is a quotation at the beginning of the book.
in the beginning
In the beginning I found the work quite hard.
since the beginning
Since the beginning of the year, 238 soldiers have been killed.
from the beginning
I opposed this war from the beginning.
PHRASES
right from/at the beginning from/at the very beginning (=used for emphasis)
He had been lying to me from the very beginning.
That’s what I suggested right at the beginning.
from beginning to end
This piece of work was a challenge from beginning to end.
start at the beginning (=start a story or activity at the first part)
Just start at the beginning and tell us exactly what happened.
sth 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.
the early signs or stages of something that later develops into something bigger or more important
ADJECTIVES
humble/modest beginnings
She rose from humble beginnings to become a senator.
small beginnings
From small beginnings the firm grew into a major computer manufacturer.
early beginnings
The Royal Society had its early beginnings in informal meetings.
PREPOSITIONS
from ... beginnings
We learn how the planet evolved from its beginnings to its present state.