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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of started
Power-play push The Lightning started the game 0 for 3 on the power play, running their woeful man-advantage run to 1 for 35 over the past 12 games.
—
Eduardo Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Clinton has only started two WSL games and missed this camp through injury.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Last year’s sunnier marathon day, similarly started with temperatures in the mid-40s in the morning but peaked around the high 50s.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
In the sixteenth century, people started to sour on his work.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The son of the Florida State great by the same name who had a 10-year NFL career, Junior started his college career at Georgia, transferred to FSU after two seasons and then ended up with the Sooners.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
While that may have been a mindset that worked against the last investors into cybersecurity and enterprise software in mid-2025 when the negative sentiment started building, at least for now, it's started working for the stocks in the sector again.
—Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
Sweeney, meanwhile, started dating music manager Scooter Braun in 2025.
—Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
The Grizzlies dressed just eight players and started Toby Okani and Whitehead, who both signed 10-day contracts on April 3.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Eduardo Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Clinton has only started two WSL games and missed this camp through injury.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Last year’s sunnier marathon day, similarly started with temperatures in the mid-40s in the morning but peaked around the high 50s.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
In the sixteenth century, people started to sour on his work.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The son of the Florida State great by the same name who had a 10-year NFL career, Junior started his college career at Georgia, transferred to FSU after two seasons and then ended up with the Sooners.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
While that may have been a mindset that worked against the last investors into cybersecurity and enterprise software in mid-2025 when the negative sentiment started building, at least for now, it's started working for the stocks in the sector again.
—Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
Sweeney, meanwhile, started dating music manager Scooter Braun in 2025.
—Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
The Grizzlies dressed just eight players and started Toby Okani and Whitehead, who both signed 10-day contracts on April 3.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for started
Verb
-
Players jumped up to celebrate, realizing seconds later that the fight isn’t over.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Cuba’s tourism revenue jumped 15% in the first half of 2016, and a record 4 million foreigners visited that year.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Satirical news outlet The Onion has inked another deal for InfoWars, the website founded by right-wing conspiracist Alex Jones who was sued into bankruptcy several years ago by families of the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Fermi was co-founded by former Energy Secretary Rick Perry to supply power to AI data center projects.—
Christina Cheddar Berk,Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That 10th booking of the season for Dunk triggered an automatic two-match ban, which ruled him out of a 2-0 win at Burnley and Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
-
And last month, a Black Hawk helicopter triggered an anti-collision alarm in a United plane landing in Orange County, California.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Across forty-five years, my course began that way.—
John McPhee,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
No tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz today, according to tracking data, making Sunday one of the quietest days in the waterway since the conflict began.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shards of glass and ceramic, rusted metal, medical and bio-waste, syringes, cracked circuit boards, and broken electronics protruded everywhere.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Or if a finger was so sliced open that the bone protruded.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her teammates intercepted her and commenced a celebration that finally elicited a Nelson smile.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
While most were silent, the few who traded muted pleasantries hushed as the homeowners of the Silver Court Trailer Park commenced their meeting.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
First established in Mexico back in the 1920s, Dia del Nino is normally celebrated with festivities, gifts and activities.—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
What began with an arms embargo during the Cuban Revolution in 1958 was broadened into a full trade and travel embargo after Fidel Castro established his communist government.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In all, 10 on-duty Portage officers, two off-duty officers and a Porter County sheriff’s deputy rushed to the scene with lights and sirens activated, the department said.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Power comes from a 700-Wh battery, while regenerative braking – activated simply by back-pedaling – can recover enough energy to extend range by up to 25%, according to ICE.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 20,
New Atlas,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Started.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/started. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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