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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in activating
to cause to function
trying to start the car on a frigid morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in commencing
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beginning
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of starting
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
By then, Rattler was in his junior year as the starting quarterback for the Sooners, and Williams was a true freshman and would soon emerge in the starting role as Rattler was benched halfway through the season.
—Tyler Geis, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The starting lineup for Friday’s game at Golden State will be different.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Starting lineup Kings coach Doug Christie will have to make a change to his starting lineup given Murray’s absence at the power forward position.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
That quirk kept Max Muncy out of the starting lineup for all but one game and largely kept Freddie Freeman in check (3-for-15 in the NLDS).
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
John Mateer, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, returned to the starting lineup Saturday after missing a game because of a hand injury.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
Season-long struggles; still fighting Charlotte has five games left on the schedule, starting with North Texas (6-1, 2-1 American) next Friday night on ESPN2.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
But Denver’s payroll finances could stand in the way of an agreement, especially with starting guard Christian Braun also at the negotiating table.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Both starting QBs left due to injury – Stanford’s Ben Gulbranson suffered a leg injury while being sacked in the second quarter, and FSU’s Tommy Castellanos was injured while sliding by safety Mitch Leigber, who was ejected for targeting.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Championship implications loomed large, with Piastri starting sixth and struggling to make progress.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
And right now, Walmart’s clearance section is overflowing with lightweight, layerable quilts and blankets at steep discounts, with prices starting at just $8.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025
But institutional gravity is already starting to pull the two organizations together.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
After more than two days of deliberation, the foreperson read the verdict, starting with the charges of special-circumstances murder/robbery.
—Joe Garcia, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
That had the Heat going with a starting lineup of Davion Mitchell, Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
By then, Rattler was in his junior year as the starting quarterback for the Sooners, and Williams was a true freshman and would soon emerge in the starting role as Rattler was benched halfway through the season.
—Tyler Geis, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The starting lineup for Friday’s game at Golden State will be different.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Starting lineup Kings coach Doug Christie will have to make a change to his starting lineup given Murray’s absence at the power forward position.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
That quirk kept Max Muncy out of the starting lineup for all but one game and largely kept Freddie Freeman in check (3-for-15 in the NLDS).
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
John Mateer, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, returned to the starting lineup Saturday after missing a game because of a hand injury.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
No question, there was a great deal to unpack after their 38-24 loss Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium, starting with a defense that gave up far too many big plays on the ground and through the air to satisfy anyone in a unit that’s suddenly under siege.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
Season-long struggles; still fighting Charlotte has five games left on the schedule, starting with North Texas (6-1, 2-1 American) next Friday night on ESPN2.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
But Denver’s payroll finances could stand in the way of an agreement, especially with starting guard Christian Braun also at the negotiating table.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Both starting QBs left due to injury – Stanford’s Ben Gulbranson suffered a leg injury while being sacked in the second quarter, and FSU’s Tommy Castellanos was injured while sliding by safety Mitch Leigber, who was ejected for targeting.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Championship implications loomed large, with Piastri starting sixth and struggling to make progress.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
And right now, Walmart’s clearance section is overflowing with lightweight, layerable quilts and blankets at steep discounts, with prices starting at just $8.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025
But institutional gravity is already starting to pull the two organizations together.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
After more than two days of deliberation, the foreperson read the verdict, starting with the charges of special-circumstances murder/robbery.
—Joe Garcia, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for starting
Verb
-
Jaxson Dart makes his first major rookie mistake of the game, forcing the ball on third down and Justin Strnad jumping the route for an interception.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
-
These flat robots have multiple modes of movement, capable of jumping or crawling at multiple speeds.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Politically, the affluence manifested in Long Island establishing itself as a bastion of the Republican Party, showing strong support for Hoover in his doomed Presidential campaign against Roosevelt.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
-
After establishing himself as a core player, Braun has put himself in position to earn upwards of $30 million per season.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There's a Shimano shifter to the right and useful illuminated buttons to the left for adjusting PAS, sounding the horn, engaging turn signaling, and activating walk-assist.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Oct. 2025
-
With Venus also in the mix, activating your ninth house of adventure, you’re reminded that life’s biggest lessons come through experience.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These suburban residents hope that vigilance will prevent the process of neighbourhood change from beginning.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Holmes’ fight, however, was just beginning.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The protruding bracket behind the air guide appears to be a cable guide, and the box behind the cable guide is a three-drive cage.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
21 Oct. 2025
-
With handbags seamlessly protruding from skirts, pantyhose covering stacks of massive bangles, doses of hot pink and big fur, the collection was made for social media consumption.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The case is scheduled to be heard in London’s High Court, commencing on October 28.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The rebate checks were issued for three consecutive years, commencing in 1999.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Anyone who loses will receive five bonus bets that add up to the initial stake.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Calderhead focuses on the British tactic, enacted two days after the initial attack, of moving their fleet into Flushing Bay to anchor for the night.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If, as Lloyd Matthews has argued, America’s founding ideals of liberty are intimately linked to Julius Caesar, that connection should remind us that such liberty requires due process to function properly.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Following the death of founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley last Thursday at age 74, the Morris County, New Jersey medical examiner’s office is conducting a series of exams to determine the rocker’s cause of death.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Starting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/starting. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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