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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
Disney’s earnings won’t reflect any financial hit from the carriage fight, which started after the late-September end to the quarter, but execs are likely to offer comments on the situation. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025 If not, Simmons will start Joe Pesansky, who started his first FBS game last week and led FIU to a 56-30 win over Middle Tennessee State. Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
Matsuda got his start as a Story Artist for Disney Animation, working on modern classics including Zootopia and Big Hero 6. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2025 The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the top teams in the Western Conference, and their strong start may motivate the front office to become more aggressive ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Verb
  • On the plane, Dick clutches the slingshot and begins sweating and muttering to himself before becoming unresponsive.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Numerous reports and videos of thundersnow in downtown Chicago began to roll in after midnight local time.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Pre-production is slated for Q3 2026, with filming scheduled to commence in Q1 2027.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Other players, however, insist that disarmament must commence first, or else any political process will be subjected to Hamas’s interference, and to arm-twisting by those who can exert influence with their guns and tunnels.
    Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The film is set in 1935 Tartu and at the University of Tartu, where, a year earlier, Professor Lazar Gulkowitsch, exiled from Germany, had established a chair of Judaic Studies within the Faculty of Philosophy.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2025
  • While proponents of wearable technology in prisons and jails have described it as potentially lifesaving, privacy rights groups and even law enforcement officials say the devices can raise ethical and legal concerns and urge agencies to establish strict rules on data use, retention and consent.
    Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • During inquiries, the ICO found 178 active email accounts using passwords identical or similar to those set by the organization’s IT desk when the account was activated.
    Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Total revenue, which jumped 10% year-on-year in the third quarter on a constant currency basis, is expected to rise by a high single-digit percentage this year, while core earnings per share are forecast to jump by a low double-digit percentage.
    Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Nothing could be more indicative of the nature and power of late value form than the prospect that even the most unashamedly denialist administration might jump onto its bandwagon.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • To add to the hilarity, one of the dachshunds appeared to have chewed through a couch cushion and somehow gotten stuck inside it, with its head and legs filmed protruding through the torn fabric.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The early word was that the protruding pair was a customized version of Adidas Adistar Cushion 3 sneakers made specifically for Williams.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • From its beginning, the leaders of the rebellion well understood the global reach and resonance of their great struggle.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • But that was the beginning of everything for both of us.
    Karen Taylor Bass, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The rumor appears to have originated on blog Redanian Intelligence, which claimed that British actor Tom Turner (Beauty and the Beast) had been cast as series narrator.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The local documentary company All Facts originated the grant amid a downturn in local production.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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