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Definition of startnext
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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

started

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verb (2)

past tense of start
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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
Columbatto said the village hopes to start construction on the towers at the end of 2027, and begin to welcome residents there at the end of 2029 and in early 2030. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026 Setting aside the gawking nature of certain style choices (the warped, swiveling, 360-degree shots used when someone starts talking about particularly demented ideas are nauseating on multiple levels), the series too closely mirrors its subjects’ insularity. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
As a result, he was limited to 14 starts across two minor-league levels. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2026 The researchers expect the tool to be used in everyday architectural practice as a decision-support system for zero-energy buildings, helping designers make smarter choices that balance comfort with energy efficiency from the very start. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
But over the past decade or so, something has started to curdle in the upper reaches of state government. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026 The football program blended very well and, as had happened in Freeport, successful seasons started almost right away. Tom Strong, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Noun
  • Intertextuality is described by Scarlett Barton in perhaps the opposite way, as linked to Roland Barthes’ observation that the author is dead, and that the text is the dissolution of every kind of voice, every beginning and core.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • This approach may appeal to taxpayers who want more personalized guidance at the beginning of the tax relief process before deciding how to proceed.
    Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • These are the tentative dates, as the actual commencement date of Ramadan 2026 depends on the sighting of the moon.
    Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Known for his couture collections and dressing icons such as Cicely Tyson and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Michael previously served as a guest lecturer, critic and commencement speaker at the school.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • According to Powerball, the jackpot has been hit almost 200 times since the lottery's inception in 1992.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
  • From its inception, fascism has functioned less as a system of thought than as a system of action.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Furthermore, since liposomal vitamin C absorbs faster, the side effects of too much vitamin C can have a quicker onset.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe location prior to the onset of winds.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Vaneast Pictures has acquired international sales rights for Youngblood, a remake of the 1986 MGM classic starring Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze, for an EFM launch.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The company recently removed the crew access arm on the tower at LC-39A and is continuing construction at the pad to support its new Starship rocket, which recently cleared an environmental review for future launches from the Space Coast.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.

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