1
as in jumped
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)
I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in founded
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of
started the impressionist movement in art
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in triggered
to cause to function
trying to start the car on a frigid morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in began
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in protruded
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in commenced
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
we'll be ready to start the concert in a moment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of started
Oil prices have surged above $100 a barrel after more major Middle East countries started reducing production, as storage fills up due to the closure of Hormuz.
—
Louise Moon, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
The shows, once Nick and I started going to them that fall, were something different entirely.
—Andrew Martin, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
Before experimenting with an early variation of Country Joe and the Fish alongside guitarist Barry Melton in the mid-1960s, McDonald started a small magazine called Rag Baby.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
New York started teenagers Julian Hall (17), Adri Mehmeti (16) and Matthew Dos Santos (17) for a third straight match.
—CBS News, 9 Mar. 2026
Software debt that started the year trading near 100 cents on the dollar is now 10 cents lower.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
That glorious 10-game win streak to begin the season — just the fifth time the Hurricanes have ever started a season 10-0 — was going to hit a snag eventually.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Eventually, in 2023, the former Montana smelter’s owner came to an agreement with the EPA to clean up its mess, and started covering the remains in a foot of dirt.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Maharishi International University started with around 500 students, but currently has roughly 2,500 enrolled.
—Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 1 Mar. 2026
Louise Moon, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
The shows, once Nick and I started going to them that fall, were something different entirely.
—Andrew Martin, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
Before experimenting with an early variation of Country Joe and the Fish alongside guitarist Barry Melton in the mid-1960s, McDonald started a small magazine called Rag Baby.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
New York started teenagers Julian Hall (17), Adri Mehmeti (16) and Matthew Dos Santos (17) for a third straight match.
—CBS News, 9 Mar. 2026
Software debt that started the year trading near 100 cents on the dollar is now 10 cents lower.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
That glorious 10-game win streak to begin the season — just the fifth time the Hurricanes have ever started a season 10-0 — was going to hit a snag eventually.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Eventually, in 2023, the former Montana smelter’s owner came to an agreement with the EPA to clean up its mess, and started covering the remains in a foot of dirt.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Maharishi International University started with around 500 students, but currently has roughly 2,500 enrolled.
—Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for started
Verb
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In California, annual sales of new light-duty zero-emission vehicles jumped 43% in 2022, according to the state’s Energy Commission.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Palm oil surged as much as 10%, soybean oil jumped and wheat neared a two-year peak, as the war in the Middle East drove energy and fertilizer costs higher and threatened to tighten supplies across agricultural markets.—
Hallie Gu,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Beyond, founded in 2009 and known primarily for its pea-protein burger patties and steaks, has had some turbulent times recently.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The 53-year-old Japanese designer, who founded cult label Number (N)ine in 1997, is relaunching the brand 15 years after stepping away from it.—
Ashley Ogawa Clarke,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This has triggered the biggest oil supply disruption in history, according to an analysis by consulting firm Rapidan Energy.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Most followers were triggered that their taxpayer dollars were going to fund the influencer’s pricey excursion.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That marked the first such departure order issued by Washington in Saudi Arabia since the war began.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
9 Mar. 2026
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His win in Istanbul in 2019 represented a crushing blow to Erdogan, whose own political ascent began as the city’s mayor.—
Beril Akman,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Big, waxy flowers called lobster claws protruded from thick stalks.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
-
However, blood was pouring out of Good’s left ear immediately after the shooting, and tissue protruded from the left side of her head, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported last week.—
Theresa Braine,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The team’s 2026 model car wasn’t in its wind tunnel until mid-April last year, when other teams had commenced such testing in January 2025.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Gates tells Outdoor Life that Miller’s citizen petition was introduced to the CPW Commission in June, just a day before a furbearer working group commenced to provide recommendations on furbearer harvest.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The run here established Fritz as the de facto face of American men’s tennis and elevated him to more elite echelons in the sport.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Our goal is also always to bring together established and emerging voices, challenging the conventional formats.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Once activated, the system quickly shares identifying information with the public in hopes of speeding up the person’s safe recovery.—
Panashe Matemba-Mutasa,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Firefighters received a 911 call from the residents after their smoke alarms were activated and fire crews responded quickly knocking down the fire in 13 minutes, according to the fire authority.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Started.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/started. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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