begin to live

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "begin to live" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to starting a new phase of life or embracing new experiences. Example: "After years of routine, she decided it was time to begin to live." Alternative expressions include "start living" and "commence living."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In Europe's more tolerant atmosphere, he could begin to live openly and without hypocrisy.

Harvard University

Perhaps then we would finally begin to live, rather than being concerned with bare survival.

The Guardian - Opinion

Exhaustion seemed unavoidable: you begin to live with the sense that you're no match for the place.

The New York Times - Travel

Nero dedicated it & condescended to remark "Good, now I can at last begin to live like a human being.

The New Yorker

Moving through one of the world's most beautiful landscapes, he is unable to see what is in front of him or to begin to live in the moment.

The New York Times

"Programs people rely on will be cut back," said Mr. Obama, who said Americans had to begin to live within their means.

The New York Times

From the moment of birth, they begin to live in a world mediated by a vast variety of caretaking practices and tools that are organized in terms of adult beliefs of what the child will become as an adult.

International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences

However, when Catherine arrives she forces him to confront his past, and more importantly love again which pushes Perdu to set sail and begin to live again.

The Guardian

Karen Heldmeyer, a city councilwoman who favors an all-out building moratorium, said the realistic approach would be for Santa Fe to begin to live within its limits.

The New York Times

But if we fear change to the point that we do not accept it, we will begin to live narrow, uncurious lives.

The New York Times

When are we in America going to wake up and actually begin to live in earnest our claimed beliefs and the dreams given to us by our forefathers?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "begin to live" when you want to emphasize the starting point of a significant life change or a new way of experiencing life, rather than simply 'living'.

Common error

Avoid using "begin to live" when 'live' alone suffices. The phrase is best reserved for situations where the commencement of living is particularly significant, not as a general synonym for 'live'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "begin to live" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically serving as a verb complement or part of a verb phrase. It denotes the commencement of experiencing life or a particular way of living. Ludwig AI examples showcase diverse applications.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

8%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "begin to live" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that indicates the commencement of a new life phase or a renewed approach to living. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile, appearing across diverse contexts from news and media to academia. While alternatives like "start living" and "begin anew" exist, "begin to live" often carries a deeper sense of transformation. To ensure effective use, reserve it for scenarios where the act of commencing to live is particularly meaningful, avoiding overuse in simple contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

start living

Focuses on the act of living, emphasizing the commencement of experiencing life fully.

begin anew

Emphasizes starting over, often after a difficult period.

commence to live

A more formal and less common way to express the beginning of living.

start a new life

Emphasizes the creation of a different lifestyle or phase in one's life.

embark on a new chapter

Implies starting a new phase or experience in life, as if beginning a new part of a story.

turn over a new leaf

Implies a change in behavior or habits to improve one's life.

find a new purpose

Highlights the discovery of a new reason for living or a new objective.

reinvent oneself

Suggests a complete transformation of one's identity and lifestyle.

rise from the ashes

Highlights the act of recovering from a devastating experience and starting over.

experience life fully

Focuses on the depth and quality of living, rather than just the act of starting.

FAQs

How can I use "begin to live" in a sentence?

You can use "begin to live" to describe the start of a new phase of life or embracing new experiences. For example, "After overcoming his illness, he could finally "begin to live"."

What can I say instead of "begin to live"?

You can use alternatives like "start living", "start a new life", or "begin anew" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "beginning to live" instead of "begin to live"?

While "begin to live" is an infinitive phrase, "beginning to live" uses the gerund form. The choice depends on the grammatical structure of your sentence. For example, "Beginning to live" after a tragedy can be a long process versus "She decided to "begin to live"".

What's the difference between "begin to live" and "start living"?

While both phrases are similar, ""begin to live"" often implies a more profound or significant shift in one's life or perspective, whereas "start living" can be more general.