"Start" vs. "begin": what's the difference?

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem Today, 02:36

English.me team member

What is similar?

Both "start" and "begin" are verbs that mean to initiate or commence an action or process. They are often interchangeable in many contexts.

What is different?

"Start" is more commonly used in informal contexts and can also be used as a noun, whereas "begin" is slightly more formal and is used only as a verb. "Start" can imply a more immediate or physical action, while "begin" can sometimes imply something more gradual.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Start

She will start her new job next week.
The race will start at 9 a.m.
I usually start my day with a cup of coffee.

Begin

He will begin his speech shortly.
Let's begin the meeting now.
The project began two months ago.