Cool MateBegin vs Commence vs Embark vs Get on it vs Initiate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Begin
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Commence
FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1verb
Embark
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Get on it
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Initiate
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most formal: CommenceMost common: Begin
| Begin | Commence | Embark | Get on it | Initiate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bɪˈɡɪn/","/bɪˈɡɪnz/","/bɪˈɡæn/","/bɪˈɡʌn/","/bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bɪˈɡɪn/","/bɪˈɡɪnz/","/bɪˈɡæn/","/bɪˈɡʌn/","/bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //kəˈmɛns//🇺🇸 //kəˈmɛns// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈbɑːk/","/ɪmˈbɑːks/","/ɪmˈbɑːkt/","/ɪmˈbɑːkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈbɑːrk/","/ɪmˈbɑːrks/","/ɪmˈbɑːrkt/","/ɪmˈbɑːrkɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɡɛt ɒn ɪt//🇺🇸 //ɡɛt ɑn ɪt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/","/ɪˈnɪʃieɪts/","/ɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪd/","/ɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/","/ɪˈnɪʃieɪts/","/ɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪd/","/ɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To start something. | To start or begin something. | To start a journey or adventure, especially by boat or plane. | Start doing something quickly. | To start something. |
| Example | I will begin my homework after dinner. | The ceremony will commence at noon. | We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. | You need to get on it if you want to finish by Friday. | to initiate legal proceedings against somebody |
| Register | Neutral | Formal | Neutral | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 | C1 | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | verb | |
| Collocations | again, all over again, anew, be due to, be expected to, be scheduled to, by, with, begin at the beginning, be just beginning, be only beginning, again, all over again, anew, be due to, be expected to, be scheduled to, by, with, begin at the beginning, be just beginning, be only beginning | commence operations, commence proceedings, commence studies | immediately, reluctantly, recently, be about to, be ready to | get on it quickly, get on it now, get on it ASAP | formally, immediately, recently |
| Antonyms | end, finish, conclude | cease, stop, end | disembark, finish | - | terminate, end, cease |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'begin' with 'start' in casual contexts., Incorrectly using it without an object, e.g., 'I will begin.' instead of 'I will begin the project.', Using 'began' instead of 'begin' in present tense situations. | Used incorrectly in informal contexts where simpler 'start' would be better., Confused with 'committed' due to similar sounds., Often misspelled as 'comence'. | Confused usage with 'disembark' which means to get off., Using 'embark' without a clear object (e.g., 'embark on a journey' is correct)., Overusing in informal contexts where simpler words like 'start' may be more appropriate. | Using in overly formal contexts., Confusing with 'get at it' which means to approach a topic., Misplacing the word order. | Confused with 'initiation' which is the process of starting something., Using it in informal settings where simpler words like 'start' are preferred., Forgetting to use an object after 'initiate', such as 'initiate a project.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'begin' in most contexts, both spoken and written. It’s appropriate for formal situations but can also be used informally. Avoid using in very casual contexts where a simpler word like 'start' may be better. | Used in formal writing and speeches. It's less common in everyday conversation. Often used in legal and professional contexts. | Used in contexts involving travel or new projects. It's not typically used in casual conversation about everyday actions. | Use 'get on it' when encouraging someone to begin a task. It’s suitable for casual conversations but may seem too informal for professional settings. | Use 'initiate' in contexts where a formal or official start is needed, like in business or academic settings. It may feel too formal in casual conversations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Begin vs Commence vs Embark vs Get on it vs Initiate
What's the difference between Begin, Commence, Embark, Get on it, and Initiate?
Begin: To start something. Commence: To start or begin something. Embark: To start a journey or adventure, especially by boat or plane. Get on it: Start doing something quickly. Initiate: To start something.
Which is more formal: Begin, Commence, Embark, Get on it, and Initiate?
Commence is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Begin, Commence, Embark, Get on it, and Initiate?
Begin is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Begin: I will begin my homework after dinner. Commence: The ceremony will commence at noon. Embark: We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. Get on it: You need to get on it if you want to finish by Friday. Initiate: to initiate legal proceedings against somebody
Can I use Begin, Commence, Embark, Get on it, and Initiate interchangeably?
Not always. Begin, Commence, Embark, Get on it, and Initiate are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.