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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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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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

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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
Randal Grichuk started the eighth inning with a home run and Kyle Teel added a three-run blast later in the inning for the White Sox. — Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026 As the drama with Salt Lake City climaxes, the rest of the Girls Trip women start to wonder if there’s more to the story than Lisa let on. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Noun
Before last year’s 2-0 start, Taylor went 1-11 during the first two weeks of the season as a head coach. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Both moved into the starting lineup late in their freshman seasons and provided a spark in victories over Washington and Illinois last year. — Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 The 6-foot-6, 308-pounder was at Wisconsin from 2020-24 before finishing at Illinois last season and entering the 49ers’ defensive-line rotation this season, perhaps even usurping Alfred Collins in the starting lineup next to Osa Odighizuwa. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
For Jessica, that story of starting with relatively little and building something through persistence has been central to her family’s ethos. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026 Here are the Amazon fall fashion finds actually worth adding to your closet starting at $7. — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 5 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
  • The collaboration will begin with a joint feasibility study and could lead to future commercial deployments of the battery technology.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2026
  • At 34, frustrated by the lack of a decent salary and deteriorating living conditions, including declining healthcare and long lines for gasoline, De La Cruz began to think about leaving Cuba.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of begin
Verb
  • Last year, La Liga inked a slightly improved broadcast rights package which will commence from the 2027-28 season — likely increasing the amount Barca have to fork over to the private equity firm.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • As pure coincidence would have it, that 2001 season that began wrapped in national tragedy would commence what remains an endless parade of Dolphins seasons ending in disappointment, with no playoff win.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of commence
Verb
  • Edgecombe established himself as one of the league’s best rookies.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers need to establish what remains in the purified water and whether those substances could affect drug quality or patient safety.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of establish
Verb
  • The Browns always envisioned defensive tackle Maliek Collins being activated from the physically unable to perform list in time to ramp up for the opener, and Collins is on schedule.
    — Zac Jackson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Not even in World War II had this full continuity posture been activated in this manner, and Stafford had to execute a plan the nation had trained for but never used.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • The reflecting pools echo with the sound of water cascading into the voids below, which suggests a peaceful replacement for the terror of men and women jumping from the towers.
    — Thomas E. Franklin, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Jean jumps into her car, and heads from her west side home to her mother's house on the east side of the city.
    — Nicole Avery Nichols, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of jump
Verb
  • Anything that protrudes above the shallow, insulating snow cover is more prone to being damaged by the cold and wind or eaten by wildlife, said plant ecologist Anne Bjorkman of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Other animals on-site include a stable full of horses and Cowboy the tortoise, who is about the size of a lawnmower and whose head protrudes from what looks like a Venus flytrap made of bone.
    — Emma Madden, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Steele’s only two league appearances over the past two seasons came at the beginning of Hurzeler’s reign in 2024-25, when Verbruggen was injured.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Finally, here’s one more restaurant to put on your list, this one at the beginning of its journey.
    — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • Both companies originated in France but have expanded into Spain and Portugal, while Cegid also has a presence in Germany.
    — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Alongside the Karrrington slate, the company is making Exotic Foods primarily as proof the company structure can also originate IP.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of originate

Phrases Containing start

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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 13 Sep. 2026.

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