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as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

Synonyms & Similar Words

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start

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word start different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of start are begin, commence, inaugurate, initiate, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How is begin related to other words for start?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How does the word commence relate to other synonyms for start?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When could inaugurate be used to replace start?

The meanings of inaugurate and start largely overlap; however, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

In what contexts can initiate take the place of start?

Although the words initiate and start have much in common, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of start?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of start
Verb
Advocates for preserving the old facilities have started a Change.org petition that has so far received more than 770 signatures. Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 21 Aug. 2025 Then there are the Browns, who will start Joe Flacco. Austin Mock, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
After signing a lucrative contract extension with the Royals, Lugo had looked pedestrian across his last three starts. Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2025 The pro has gained more than three strokes on the field in approach play across his last five starts. Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Verb
  • However, thefts began to rise again in 2023, peaking in March 2024, according to a separate analysis by HLDI.
    Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025
  • None of the cases brought by Dominion and Smartmatic directly have yet gone to trial: Dominion’s cases against Fox and Newsmax and Smartmatic’s cases against Newsmax and OANN were all settled before trials could begin.
    Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Pre-orders of the album appeared on Taylor Swift’s website as soon as the time commenced.
    StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 13 Aug. 2025
  • What Happens Next If approved, the first phase of the project, which costs $55 billion, will commence in the next few years.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • However, Unai Emery's men will hope to turn the dial and establish some early dominance in the hunt for Champions League qualification with some Week 1 revenge.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
  • With Van de Ven and Cristian Romero established as Spurs’ primary partnership in central defence, Vuskovic may struggle to supplant that duo for the biggest games.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The fire alarm at Lowe’s was activated after an employee spotted the fire, according to the Milford Fire Department.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2025
  • This will cover your initial wager to activate your preferred offer with bet365.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • When is the right time to jump to firm conclusions about any player or any team?
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Britain’s holdings jumped by $48.7 billion, the most since March 2023, to $858.1 billion.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Tung’s front layers were slicked across the right side of her forehead and brushed behind her ear; her short ends protruded out underneath.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 30 July 2025
  • In person the tremendous symmetry of her face was startling; her cheekbones protruded, and her eyes were far apart.
    Darcey Steinke, Vogue, 27 July 2025
Noun
  • What began as one family’s search for a life in rhythm with the land has bloomed into a thriving village where 70% of the acreage has been protected under a land trust from the beginning.
    Chrissy Tracey, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Since the beginning, her writing has been intimate and personal, emblematic of a storyteller who can pinpoint a fleeting emotion and describe scenes fit for a rom-com.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Much of Evie’s new understanding, of herself and of her environment, originates from those around her, especially her new boyfriend.
    Lora Kelley, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
  • These routes originated at a facility on one side of an Interstate and made deliveries to larger clinics located only a couple of hundred yards away on the other side of an interstate.
    Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

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