genesis

Meanings

1. 1nounsingularformal

   The point at which something begins, especially an idea or event that grows into something larger.

   Grammar: Usually singular and followed by of: the genesis of the plan.

   Patterns

   • the genesis of something
   • have its genesis in something

   The genesis of the project was a casual chat over coffee.

   The novel has its genesis in a childhood memory.

   Historians study the genesis of the war.

2. 2proper nounproperreligion

   The first book of the Bible, which tells the story of creation and the earliest ancestors of the Hebrew people.

   Grammar: Capitalized and has no article: the story in Genesis.

   Patterns

   • the book of Genesis

   They read a chapter of Genesis in class.

   The story of Noah appears in Genesis.

   Genesis opens with the creation of the world.

Word forms

Common combinations

the genesis of an idea

The genesis of the idea came during a train journey.

trace the genesis

The author traces the genesis of the movement.

project's genesis

The project's genesis was a student competition.

the book of Genesis

The book of Genesis describes the first days of creation.

have its genesis in

The festival has its genesis in an old harvest celebration.

Synonyms and how they differ

origin

Origin is the simple, common word, while genesis hints at a process that unfolds and grows.

beginning

Beginning is plain and everyday, and works for any start, even a small one.

birth

Birth is more figurative and emotional, as in the birth of a nation.

inception

Inception is the formal moment of starting, usually an organization or project.

Opposites

Word family

genetic adjective

relating to genes and heredity

generate verb

to produce or create

generation noun

a group born at about the same time

Commonly confused: genesis or genius?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “genesis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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