start 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈstärt How to pronounce start (audio)
Definition of startnext
1
as in to begin
to come into existence the fight started when one child tripped the other

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2
as in to commence
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) we'll be ready to start the concert in a moment

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3
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of started the impressionist movement in art

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4
as in to activate
to cause to function trying to start the car on a frigid morning

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

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6
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point frightened horses with starting eyes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

start

2 of 3

noun

as in beginning
the point at which something begins knew from the start of the game that he would win easily

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

started

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of start
1
as in jumped
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

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2
as in founded
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of started the impressionist movement in art

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in triggered
to cause to function trying to start the car on a frigid morning

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in began
to come into existence the fight started when one child tripped the other

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Randal Grichuk started the eighth inning with a home run and Kyle Teel added a three-run blast later in the inning for the White Sox. — Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026 As the drama with Salt Lake City climaxes, the rest of the Girls Trip women start to wonder if there’s more to the story than Lisa let on. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Noun
Before last year’s 2-0 start, Taylor went 1-11 during the first two weeks of the season as a head coach. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
When faced with paying the real cost of AI, a lot of businesses that were extremely bullish immediately started talking about austerity measures. — Jack Holmes, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026 In Alabama, Brown said lawmakers have started asking about Food is Medicine — a promising sign in a deep-red state. — Lauren Chan, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
  1. begin
  2. commence
  3. establish
  4. activate
  5. jump
  6. protrude
  7. beginning
  8. originate
Verb
  • As Georgia’s college campuses are bustling with students again, this edition of the AJC On Campus roundup begins with a $250,000 settlement.
    — Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • According to the federal indictment, Castro told an FBI agent that a man grabbed a red broom off a front porch and began hitting him with it while Castro was trying to detain another man outside a Minneapolis home.
    — Valerie Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of begin
Verb
  • The program picked four international applicants out of nearly 1,000 for a six-month fellowship commencing this month in London along with a cash prize of £10,000 ($13,480) each.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This week, London’s Serpentine Galleries announced the launch of a six-month fellowship program, commencing in September, that will award four artists working with artificial intelligence grants of £10,000.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of commence
Verb
  • Edgecombe established himself as one of the league’s best rookies.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers need to establish what remains in the purified water and whether those substances could affect drug quality or patient safety.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of establish
Verb
  • The Browns always envisioned defensive tackle Maliek Collins being activated from the physically unable to perform list in time to ramp up for the opener, and Collins is on schedule.
    — Zac Jackson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Not even in World War II had this full continuity posture been activated in this manner, and Stafford had to execute a plan the nation had trained for but never used.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • As one social media analyst put it, Ziyu couldn't jump over a piece of paper.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Even with an 11,500-seat capacity, revenue for the club jumped 260 per cent in the stadium’s inaugural year.
    — Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of jump
Verb
  • Anything that protrudes above the shallow, insulating snow cover is more prone to being damaged by the cold and wind or eaten by wildlife, said plant ecologist Anne Bjorkman of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Other animals on-site include a stable full of horses and Cowboy the tortoise, who is about the size of a lawnmower and whose head protrudes from what looks like a Venus flytrap made of bone.
    — Emma Madden, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Steele’s only two league appearances over the past two seasons came at the beginning of Hurzeler’s reign in 2024-25, when Verbruggen was injured.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Finally, here’s one more restaurant to put on your list, this one at the beginning of its journey.
    — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • Both companies originated in France but have expanded into Spain and Portugal, while Cegid also has a presence in Germany.
    — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Alongside the Karrrington slate, the company is making Exotic Foods primarily as proof the company structure can also originate IP.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of originate

Phrases Containing start

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star-spangled
start
started
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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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