Synonyms of starting

starting 1 of 2

adjective

as in beginning

Related Words

• beginning
• initial
• opening
• first
• earliest
• pioneer
• original
• inaugural
• foremost
• maiden
• primary
• leadoff
• headmost
• eminent
• premier
• superior

Dissimilar Words

• last
• final
• latter
• concluding
• latest
• following
• terminal
• ultimate
• succeeding
• lag
• closing
• terminating
• eventual
• ensuing
• consequent
• rearmost
• hindmost
• bottommost
• crowning
• decisive
• conclusive
• definitive

starting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of start

1

as in jumping

to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)

I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jumping
• leaping
• cringing
• wincing
• startling
• bolting
• flinching
• twitching
• jerking
• reacting
• responding
• springing
• shrinking
• recoiling
• jolting
• bounding
• blenching
• spooking
• quailing
• squinching

2

as in establishing

to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of

started the impressionist movement in art

Synonyms & Similar Words

• establishing
• founding
• initiating
• launching
• introducing
• creating
• beginning
• pioneering
• instituting
• inaugurating
• planting
• constructing
• constituting
• originating
• organizing
• innovating
• developing
• producing
• setting up
• inventing
• devising
• manufacturing
• authoring
• expanding
• thinking (up)
• cooking (up)
• conceiving
• funding
• enlarging
• financing
• making up
• concocting
• subsidizing
• fathering
• arranging
• contriving
• fabricating
• endowing
• relaunching
• systematizing
• reinitiating
• reinstituting
• putting up
• refounding
• systemizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closing (down)
• shutting (up)
• ending
• finishing
• abolishing
• phasing out
• stopping
• terminating
• halting
• nullifying
• annihilating
• annulling
• winding up
• rounding (off or out)
• wrapping up

3

as in activating

to cause to function

trying to start the car on a frigid morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activating
• triggering
• sparking
• driving
• moving
• generating
• powering
• fueling
• running
• pushing
• setting off
• igniting
• turning on
• charging
• provoking
• touching off
• launching
• actuating
• firing
• cranking (up)
• switching
• releasing
• electrifying
• energizing
• turning over
• stimulating
• accelerating
• tripping
• discharging
• reactivating
• exciting
• kicking over
• recharging
• inciting
• kick-starting
• instigating
• stirring up
• jump-starting
• quickening
• arousing
• catalyzing
• stepping up
• vitalizing
• speeding (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cutting
• killing
• stopping
• checking
• sticking
• cutting out
• shutting off
• turning off
• halting
• arresting
• cutting off
• stalling
• braking
• drawing up
• slowing
• jamming
• deactivating
• suppressing
• repressing
• decelerating
• stunting

4

as in commencing

to come into existence

the fight started when one child tripped the other

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beginning
• commencing
• originating
• appearing
• arising
• being
• forming
• arriving
• emerging
• springing
• existing
• living
• breaking
• dawning
• continuing
• actualizing
• materializing
• setting in
• lasting
• engendering
• breathing
• surviving
• coming on
• subsisting
• persisting
• shaping (up)
• coalescing
• enduring
• cohering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• stopping
• ceasing
• finishing
• terminating
• concluding
• discontinuing
• halting
• quitting
• disappearing
• vanishing
• dying
• dissolving
• evaporating
• departing
• desisting
• expiring
• passing away
• perishing

5

as in protruding

to extend outward beyond a usual point

frightened horses with starting eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protruding
• poking
• projecting
• bulging
• standing out
• swelling
• jutting
• sticking out
• bunching
• extending
• pouting
• billowing
• ballooning
• overhanging
• bagging
• bellying
• pooching
• pouching
• stretching
• beetling
• expanding
• lengthening
• inflating
• snowballing
• mushrooming
• dilating
• distending
• doming
• elongating
• blowing up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contracting
• shrinking
• condensing
• compressing
• constricting

6

as in launching

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

• beginning
• commencing
• launching
• opening
• falling (to)
• creating
• entering (into or upon)
• initiating
• striking (into)
• embarking (on or upon)
• getting off
• organizing
• generating
• getting to
• originating
• establishing
• getting going
• leading off
• adopting
• setting about
• kicking off
• inventing
• inaugurating
• founding
• instituting
• spawning
• innovating
• pioneering
• embracing
• taking up
• taking on
• fathering
• setting up
• getting down (to)
• getting around (to)
• getting round (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• finishing
• stopping
• terminating
• concluding
• ceasing
• discontinuing
• completing
• halting
• closing
• leaving
• quitting
• laying off
• abandoning
• destroying
• desisting
• knocking off
• abolishing
• forsaking
• extinguishing
• exterminating
• demolishing
• phasing out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of starting

Adjective

Both were in the starting lineup for Saturday night’s game at Texas. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Every member of the starting lineup had at least one hit, with the exception of Francisco Lindor. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 22 Aug. 2026

Metea Valley The Mustangs (6-14-2) had four freshmen in the starting lineup by the end of last season and will be young again. — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, Willy Adames returned to the starting lineup after missing the last week due to a mild low back strain, going 3-for-4 in his return. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Two more Toronto hitters added homers, and every player in the starting lineup recorded a hit, resulting in the Jays’ biggest score at Tropicana Field since May 23, 2023. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Despite Lionel Messi’s return to the starting lineup following the death of his father, Inter Miami was routed 4-1 at Nashville midweek after being eliminated from Leagues Cup in the group stage. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

With Julian Sayin returning to the starting lineup for Ohio State, Smith should have every opportunity to build on the previous seasons and bring home some hardware. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Stribling’s ascendance has become one of the stories of August for the 49ers, who could badly use another quality player in the starting lineup to complement newcomer Mike Evans, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Verb

From travel dresses to a lightweight sweater, here are 14 items from Quince’s Workwear Edit that would look great on you on your next flight, starting at $20. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026

Keep scrolling to shop comfy travel outfits worth packing, with standout staples starting at just $15. — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026

Third-round pick Malachi Fields will be a rookie starting his first game against Dallas with minimal preseason reps of his own. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026

The Dolphins, resting their talent-needy starting defense, fought with backups that will provide substandard depth this season. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

The Storm’s first football season ended with a 1-8 record, with Rasmussen starting every game at tackle. — Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2026

The Chiefs’ starting O-line played one series against the Seahawks on Friday night, with undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson at left tackle and sixth-year lineman Jaylon Moore at right tackle. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026

The Yellow Jackets have matchups against Cleburne and Class 4A power Alvarado before starting district play; Heights is expected to compete for another district title. — Charles Baggarly august 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026

Though Derrick Moore had never played or coached the sport, that didn’t stop him from starting a team so the students could have an extracurricular activity to call their own. — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026