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

Robinson was also a catalyst in TCU making the NCAA Tournament, as his insertion into the starting lineup against a top-five Iowa State team in February was the start of the last-season surge that took TCU off the bubble. —Steven Johnson june 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026

Tucker was one of five Dodgers in the starting lineup who went hitless. —Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026

The season’s record for MLB best home run bets sits at 10-34, with two no-bets for players who weren’t in the starting lineup on the days their home run bets were suggested. —Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Burrell, who was inserted back into the starting lineup because of Plum’s injury, scored a season-high 16 points and grabbed five rebounds against Connecticut. —John Davis, Daily News, 1 June 2026

Durbin was in the starting lineup just three times in a 10-game stretch from May 17 to May 27. —Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 1 June 2026

New starting lineup Nakase had stuck with the same starting lineup for each of the Valkyries’ first seven games this season, with Burton, Williams, Kaila Charles, Kayla Thornton and Kiah Stokes opening games. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 31 May 2026

Clark returned to the starting lineup and scored a team-high 22 points to help lift Indiana to its third consecutive victory. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2026

The Yankees made some franchise history while beating up on the Royals Tuesday night, as every member of the starting lineup recorded at least two hits in a 15-1 win at Kauffman Stadium. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026

Verb

Ahead, shop the tank and more of Stewart’s basics starting at $17. —Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026

Fans of Madix will also be thrilled to know that starting Friday, May 29, Peacock subscribers will have the option to choose Madix as their Peacock avatar on the streaming service. —Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 29 May 2026

Another potential funding source cited in the proposal is starting to use grants and penalty funds obtained by the city attorney’s office to cover general fund expenses. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026

And starting June 24, 2026, an additional day—every other Saturday—will be added. —Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026

The daylight was only just starting to be daylight. —Literary Hub, 29 May 2026

Define The Problem Correctly A strong architect will push back on the brief before starting to design. —Taras Tymoshchuk, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Even with the regular season a few months away from starting, this week has been full of drama. —Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026

The league will play across four continents, starting with the Week 1 game in Australia. —Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2026