* Begin: This is the most direct opposite, meaning to start something.
* Initiate: Similar to begin, this implies starting a process.
* Commence: Another synonym for begin.
* Start: A simpler and more informal word for begin.
* Open: Can be used in the sense of beginning a discussion or a new chapter.
* Postpone: This suggests delaying a conclusion, rather than avoiding it entirely.
* Continue: Indicates that something is ongoing and not yet finished.
* Suspend: This suggests halting something temporarily, with the intention of resuming it later.
* Abandon: This implies completely giving up on reaching a conclusion.
Examples:
* Instead of concluding the meeting, we decided to continue the discussion.
* The judge postponed the trial, so we did not reach a conclusion.
* The team abandoned their research project, so they never concluded their findings.
The best antonym for conclude will depend on the specific situation.