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

Their starting lineup includes Ravyn Lenae's Blue Island and Overmono's Pure Devotion. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026

While Chapman won’t play anytime soon, rookie Bryce Eldridge expects to return to the starting lineup for Wednesday’s series finale against the Rangers. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

Catcher Dalton Rushing was scratched from the starting lineup with minor right arm irritation and was replaced by Eliezer Alfonzo. — Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 2 Aug. 2026

No Alijah Vera-Tucker slid Ben Brown into the starting lineup at left guard for team drills. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2026

Three seasons later, Hunt was in the starting lineup when the Chiefs faced the Green Bay Packers in the first Super Bowl. — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

On the Sixers, James perfectly slides into the starting lineup with Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe. — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 29 July 2026

Sanchez is facing new competition for the starting role this year with Belgium international Mike Penders joining the squad having impressed on loan at Strasbourg last term. — Simon Johnson, New York Times, 27 July 2026

But the Dodgers say his knee doesn’t bother him while batting, and the four-time MVP has remained in the starting lineup regularly. — ABC News, 25 July 2026

Verb

Securing those additions, though, is secondary to the more pressing need to build and develop a strong starting XI, an area in which Carrick has made significant progress. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026

Because of forecast high tides, Metrolink is suspending train service starting Monday, and ending Wednesday, on the Orange County Line south of the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station and north of the Oceanside station. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026

The layout is built for both daily life and entertaining, starting with a kitchen that has been updated to modern expectations while still fitting the home’s classic style. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Below, shop trendy barrel cuts, airy linen materials, and easy-to-dress-up satin styles, starting at $20. — Natalie Labarbera, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026

Sale appeared to have a slight hitch in his leg before starting his motion when he was called for his third career balk. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Keep scrolling to shop more popular platform sandal styles starting at $19. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026

At least one person has been arrested and charged with starting one of the fires. — Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026

Beijing in recent years has rapidly expanded mandates for schools in ethnic minority regions to adopt primarily Chinese-language education, starting from kindergarten. — CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026