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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
Then, about 30 minutes after launch, Ship started to tumble, which was the result of a leak in Ship's fuel-tank systems, according to Huot. Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 May 2025 Born with Sickle Cell Disease, Woolford started a non-profit, Sickle Cell Reproductive Education Directive, that advocates for patients like herself. Katia Riddle, NPR, 28 May 2025
Noun
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch cited the importance of a strong start prior to the game. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 May 2025 Meanwhile, Bellinger, who won an MVP Award with the Dodgers in 2019, has found his footing after a rocky start, hitting .318 with five homers and 16 RBI this month. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
Verb
That’s quite a feat for a team that started playing football in 1925. Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024 The cold of the night had returned, and the baby had started to shiver. Karen Zautyk, New York Daily News, 24 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Noun
  • Niko first spoke publicly about his diagnosis at the beginning of 2024.
    Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 30 May 2025
  • But at the beginning of Jonathan Tropper’s Your Friends and Neighbors, he’s fired from his job and divorced from his wife.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Trump's speech politicizes military commencement The anecdote came during the commencement address, in which Trump touted his administration's isolationist stances and the ending of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
    James Powel, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • At least 12 people were injured after a tree fell on bystanders during a commencement ceremony at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, on Friday.
    Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Since its inception, NASA has selected 61 women as astronaut candidates, many of them making groundbreaking contributions to space science and exploration.
    Betsy Pudliner, The Conversation, 19 May 2025
  • And since its inception, the CDF has made significant investments in cinema through a portfolio of $234 million.
    Partner Content, Variety, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • There are people in the government who have made their intentions very clear at the onset, and those intentions were emptying Gaza of its inhabitants, expelling them, and returning the Jewish settlements there.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 21 May 2025
  • This alteration might trigger the onset of migraine or worsen migraine attacks, as well as causing more severe or frequent migraines.
    Brigid Dwyer, Verywell Health, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • SpaceX's broadband internet constellation grew again today (May 31), with the launch of 27 satellites into Earth orbit.
    Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 31 May 2025
  • As a result, the surface of the land and sea is an open book that anyone with an internet connection can read to the point where the embarrassing launch failure of a North Korean frigate is instantly world news instead of a vague rumor.
    David Szondy May 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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