\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|}\n\hline & Oakland & Los Angeles \\n\hline Budget Item & Cost & Cost \\n\hline Housing & \$565 & \$1200 \\n\hline Food & \$545 & \$655 \\n\hline Health Care & \$245 & \$495 \\n\hline Taxes & \$450 & \$625 \\n\hline Other

Begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable. We can use the verbs begin and start to mean the same thing but begin is more formal than start.

Begin is an irregular verb. Used with noun phrases if you start or begin something, you do it from a particular time. Begin, commence, initiate, start (when followed by noun or gerund) refer to setting into motion or progress something that continues for some time.

Begin is the common term: To begin to do something means to start doing it. Jan 14, 2026begin (third-person singular simple present begins, present participle beginning, simple past began, past participle begun) (ergative) to start, to initiate or take the first step into something.

Definition of begin verb in oxford advanced learner's dictionary. Begin meaning, definition, what is begin: