beginner
noun (countable)
UK/bɪˈɡɪn.ər/US/bɪˈɡɪn.ɚ/
A person who is new to a field or activity; someone just starting out and lacking experience.
Example Sentences
She’s a complete beginner at playing the piano.
Even a beginner can follow these simple instructions for baking a cake.
When traveling to a new country, it’s common to feel like a beginner in understanding the local culture and language.
The instructor designs the course for both beginners and advanced students, ensuring that everyone can progress at their own pace.
He started as a beginner in coding, gradually teaching himself more complex languages and frameworks through online tutorials.
For a beginner, learning how to swim can be daunting at first, but proper guidance and practice make a huge difference in building confidence.
Joining a beginner-friendly fitness class gave her the chance to learn basic exercises, meet supportive people, and establish a consistent workout routine that soon boosted her energy and self-esteem.
While many people find public speaking intimidating, starting as a beginner offers an opportunity to develop strong communication skills by embracing small challenges and celebrating each minor success.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
Someone in the early stage of learning or practicing a particular activity, craft, or subject.If you’re a beginner, you’re just starting out in a skill or field with minimal prior knowledge. Often, success at this stage involves focusing on foundational concepts and hands-on practice: for example, learning fundamental chords on a guitar, mastering basic stitches in knitting, or studying introductory grammar in a new language. Beginners benefit from clear guidance, structured lessons, and supportive feedback—ideally in small, manageable increments that build confidence over time. This may look like following a cooking tutorial step by step or taking a beginner’s class to grasp the basics. The mindset of a beginner typically includes curiosity, patience, and a willingness to make (and learn from) mistakes. Over time, consistent practice, good mentors, and gradual challenges help transform a beginner into someone who’s intermediate or even expert. Whether you’re referencing sports, academics, hobbies, or a profession, being a beginner signals fresh enthusiasm and a starting point for growth.
Alternatives
If you want to avoid repeating “beginner,” there are several synonyms. “Novice” conveys formal or academic undertones, while “newcomer” shows someone new to a group or activity. “Rookie” leans casual, often used in sports or work contexts. If there’s a training element, “trainee” is appropriate. For less formal usage, you might choose “noob,” though it can come across as slang or playful. Each alternative highlights slightly different connotations—from the structured guidance of a “trainee” to the informal inexperience of a “rookie.” By picking a term suited to your setting, you clarify just how new someone is, and whether their inexperience is light-hearted (as with “noob”) or part of a formal learning process (as with “apprentice” or “trainee”).
Writing
When writing about a beginner, it’s helpful to mention the domain they’re entering and the specific hurdles they face. If the topic is language learning, introduce initial vocabulary or grammar lessons. For guitar-playing, describe practicing basic chords and strumming patterns. It can help to offer an encouraging tone—highlighting that everyone starts somewhere, and acknowledging missteps as part of growth. In guides or how-to articles, break down initial lessons into manageable units (like short drills or repeated small tasks) that confirm success at each step. Personal anecdotes—such as how you felt when you first tried a skill—can reassure readers that beginner-stage anxiety or confusion is normal. Using concrete examples (e.g., “In your first weeks of knitting, you might drop stitches, but it’s easy to fix.”) helps define the learning curve. By combining practical advice, a welcoming vibe, and recognition of universal newness, your writing aligns with the spirit of being a beginner—optimistic, exploratory, and patient.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, “beginner” might pop up when a friend admits, “I’m such a beginner at cooking; I can barely boil water!” or when someone signs up for lessons: “I’m joining a beginner yoga class.” People often identify as beginners in certain activities to manage expectations—“I’m a beginner at this game, go easy on me!”—or to ask for guidance: “Any beginner tips for skateboarding?” If you’re chatting with friends who share your new hobby, you can create a supportive environment by comparing notes or pointing each other to helpful resources. Social media often abounds with #beginner or #newbie tags, letting folks share and celebrate early-stage achievements. Whether you’re describing a child’s first steps in piano practice or someone attempting a brand-new workout routine, using “beginner” in casual talk signals an open, eager mindset that welcomes advice and encouragement. It underscores how everyone, at some point, starts at square one.
Etymology
“Beginner” stems from the verb “begin,” which arrived from Old English “beginnan,” meaning ‘to start.’ By adding the suffix “-er,” English formed a noun describing the person who initiates or starts something. Historically, it’s closely tied to the transition from not knowing to gaining knowledge or skill, aligning with traditional apprenticeship models in which novices would learn under experienced mentors. Over time, “beginner” remained the straightforward label for someone at the initial stage of learning or practicing, be it a craft, sport, trade, or academic subject. The term resonates in modern contexts of self-improvement and continuous learning, where the “beginner’s mindset” is valued for its openness and readiness to explore. Whether you’re referencing medieval apprenticeships or contemporary online tutorials, “beginner” maintains its core meaning: an individual embarking on a new skill journey.
