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start 1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈstärt How to pronounce start (audio)
Definition of startnext
1
as in to begin
to come into existence the fight started when one child tripped the other

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Relevance

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2
as in to commence
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) we'll be ready to start the concert in a moment

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3
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of started the impressionist movement in art

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4
as in to activate
to cause to function trying to start the car on a frigid morning

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

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6
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point frightened horses with starting eyes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

start

2 of 4

noun

as in beginning
the point at which something begins knew from the start of the game that he would win easily

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

starting

3 of 4

adjective

as in initial

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

starting

4 of 4

verb (2)

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

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word start different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of start are begin, commence, inaugurate, initiate, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How is begin related to other words for start?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How does the word commence relate to other synonyms for start?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When could inaugurate be used to replace start?

The meanings of inaugurate and start largely overlap; however, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

In what contexts can initiate take the place of start?

Although the words initiate and start have much in common, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of start?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

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
Over the course of three years, Kaczynski endured unrelenting ridicule of his intelligence, masculinity, and ideas, and along the way started journaling about revenge fantasies and dreams of escaping to nature. — Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026 The 10-year-old who started The Cote News isn’t ready to stop seeing a blank page and imagining how to fill it with the right words, with stories, with humor and with heart. — Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
His start functioned instead as one last tune-up before next week’s Wild Card playoff series. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026 Holmes has walked 15 batters in his last 19 2/3 innings spanning four starts. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Adjective
He was thrust into the starting lineup Thursday and was suffering from back spasms as late as Saturday. — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026 Miami moved safety Bryce Fitzgerald to outside cornerback and inserted freshman JJ Dunnigan into the starting lineup for his first career start. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
The grapes, from Mick Klüg Farms and Seedling Farms, are harvested starting between mid-September and early October and are available for about a month. — Amy Cavanaugh, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 Now, the French designer is channeling that affection for the landscape into ASerra, a new hotel and residential development in Melides with 22 private villas starting at $6 million. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
  1. begin
  2. commence
  3. establish
  4. activate
  5. jump
  6. protrude
  7. beginning
  8. originate
Verb
  • Soon after the mother and daughter took over the kitchen, lines began forming inside the supermarket.
    — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Release can begin with simply deciding not to keep feeding the same pattern.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of begin
Verb
  • The girls basketball state finals will begin March 4, while the boys basketball finals will commence March 11.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Ye Jianyuan The Suzhou MoCA was inaugurated nearly four years after construction commenced in December 2022.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of commence
Verb
  • On the people side, establish an ownership and accountability structure.
    — Evgeny Gervis, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The opening solidified Seoul’s status as a major global city and established a new benchmark for luxury hospitality.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of establish
Verb
  • Gonzalez Reyes then returned to his vehicle and drove away with its police-style siren activated, investigators said.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Nicotine activates reward pathways in the brain, which can create a temporary sense of pleasure and well-being.
    — Hasmeena Kathuria, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • During the first challenge, Candace Cameron Bure asked her why Rose jumped out of the helicopter feet first instead of backward.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • As fire ripped through the apartment building, the stepfather of five paused to talk the unidentified pregnant woman out of jumping from the second-story window to the dirt and concrete below.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of jump
Verb
  • As has the part where Reacher uses his left paw with two nails protruding from the palm as a makeshift Wolverine/Freddy Krueger stabbin’ hand.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
  • For the hunters, a massive grey orb with a ramp protruding from it is one clue.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • One thing that has changed since the beginning of the charter is the relationship between cabinmates Kat and Gen, who used to be close until Gen got a little too comfortable.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • That equipment ultimately failed to lure back shoppers and the company conducted another round of layoffs at the beginning of the year.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • There’s also been a surge of cafes throughout the US dedicated to beverages using one particular ingredient, the root of the Piper methysticum plant, which originated in the South Pacific.
    — Esther Tseng, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
  • According to lore, the Eton uniform originated when boys dressed in black to mourn the death of King George III in 1820.
    — Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of originate

Phrases Containing start

Browse Nearby Words

star-spangled
start
started
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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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