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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
After the trade that sent Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers resulted in a pay increase for the star cornerback, rumors have started rumbling about a possible Watt trade. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025 With Mitchell agreeing to his new two-year, $24 million deal with the Heat on Saturday, his salary for this upcoming season can start as low as $11.5 million. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Noun
The 11-year NBA veteran averaged 15.1 points (on 47% shooting) and 6.1 rebounds per game while playing 60 games (57 starts) a year ago. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025 At the time of the tournament's start, Fritz was ranked No. 5 in the world and scored 10 ATP singles titles, including the 2022 Indian Wells Open. Jamie Ballard, People.com, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Verb
  • Thomas officially began to practice and compete with the women's swimmers in Fall 2021.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2025
  • While Robinson could begin talking about a new deal with other teams when free agency opens around the league Monday at 6 p.m., returning to the Heat on a new contract also remains a possibility, according to a league source.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • In October 2022, the NFLPA commenced a System Arbitration alleging exactly that.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour, which commenced in 2022, launched a new North American leg in May with stadium dates through September.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Since its inception in 2006, Sound and Fury quickly established itself as the event for hardcore and hardcore-adjacent music (from the heavier side of emo bands like Anxious to more extreme, metal-leaning acts) first in Los Angeles and then across the country.
    Josh Chesler, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
  • Individual districts can establish their own interpretations of possession and how to enforce the law.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • The couple successfully activate the code and crawl through a tunnel to freedom, only to discover that the entire city has been sealed inside the same black brick structures.
    Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 11 July 2025
  • The Network then will activate its many participants to collaborate and engage together to advance solutions and designs of new processes, or mechanisms, or even technologies that are needed to not only benefit each individual employer organization but also the overall talent ecosystem.
    Ryan Stowers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • The stock has jumped 16% in just a week, reaching a new 52-week high of $18.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Just like the first clip, the rescue dog jumped up and gave her another enormous hug.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Nearby, police found another pitbull, Lucky, in a wet kennel that was bound shut with five leashes, her hip bones protruding.
    Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025
  • Their feet protrude, white and enormous, from their grey-green uniforms like tree-branches from which the bark has been stripped.
    Thomas Meaney, New Yorker, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • From acorn-sized beginnings to its towering oak tree proportions today, the concept of Citizenship by Investment (CIP) in the Caribbean has developed into a dependable source of foreign capital for countries.
    Jared Mccallister, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
  • Bayern Munich have won the Champions League on six separate occasions while PSG finally got over the line this season with a stunning 5-0 win over Inter Milan that could mark the beginning of an era of dominance for the French giants.
    Darren Richman, New York Times, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Indeed, part of the name Pontianak may originate in the pohon tinggi, or tall trees, that serve as her lair.
    H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 5 July 2025
  • Fallon Tallent killed two Wilson County police officers during a police pursuit that originated in Knoxville, but how to prove intent was at the heart of the 2004 trial.
    Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 4 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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