1
2
as in to establish
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 to activate
to cause to function
trying to start the car on a frigid morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to begin
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beginning
the point at which something begins
knew from the start of the game that he would win easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in initial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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
Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
Before her second trial even started, Read had $5 million of deferred legal bills, according to the magazine.
—Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2025
But Kikuchi blanked the Astros on four hits, striking out nine and walking none, for the rest of his seven-inning, 103-pitch start to give the Angels a chance to come back.
—Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 21 June 2025
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Pickett is active but not starting, meaning Tanner McKee gets an opportunity to make his first NFL start.
—Adam Gretz, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start
Verb
Fans waited for the buses that carried the heroes of that year’s Stanley Cup-winning team; as soon as a bus turned a corner and the players came close enough to be recognizable, fans started shouting their names, yelling joyfully.
—Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
Before her second trial even started, Read had $5 million of deferred legal bills, according to the magazine.
—Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
Noun
Dylan Cease’s quality start was that much sturdier.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2025
But Kikuchi blanked the Astros on four hits, striking out nine and walking none, for the rest of his seven-inning, 103-pitch start to give the Angels a chance to come back.
—Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 21 June 2025
Verb
Perhaps Finch is leaning on a couple of recent games against high-caliber competition for optimism about his starting five.
—Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Pickett is active but not starting, meaning Tanner McKee gets an opportunity to make his first NFL start.
—Adam Gretz, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Noun
-
After missing four games due to a concussion and an illness at the beginning of June, Bueckers has been on a tear.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
23 June 2025
-
Bulls will point to yesterday’s event as just the beginning of an exciting path of growth.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
Pele made it 3-1, then Zagallo put the game to bed with Brazil’s fourth after his initial corner was not cleared.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
-
In the initial preemptive attack, Israel hit the same three sites targeted by the U.S. Several top Iranian nuclear scientists and the top general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in the operation, according to Iran.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
Their route to walking across the stage to receive a diploma might have taken some detours and extra years, but the joy in earning a high school diploma or equivalency certificate was evident at the Poway Adult School’s 60th annual commencement ceremony.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 June 2025
-
Video shows Oh asking every attendee to stand up and participate from the commencement stage to the bleachers.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
Since its inception, in 2000, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which works with local governments to bring vaccines to low-income countries, has helped administer 1.9 billion vaccines and reached a billion children.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
27 June 2025
-
Ross has been a foundational voice for AEW since its inception.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Elio’s personality is defined mostly by pity in the first act, as the poor kid’s insecurities turn potential new friends — Bryce (Dylan Gilmer) and Caleb (Jake Getman), who express an interest in joining his ham radio club — into bullies.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
17 June 2025
-
Lake was among Luminate’s top five CCM artists in the first half of 2024, and his star has only risen since then.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
In the five years prior to the onset of the pandemic, the overall crime rate sat between 8 and 9.5 acts per 1,000 students.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2025
-
Since then, city leaders added hundreds of new employees and, since the onset of the COVID pandemic, relied on one-time funding to balance the books.—
Daniel Borenstein,
Mercury News,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
In contrast, Iran’s unprecedented launch of hundreds of missiles and drones deliberately targets Israeli civilians — firing at major cities, neighborhoods and population centers, aiming to murder as many innocent people as possible — Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.—
Laurence Milstein,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
-
But Washington retains the sole authority to order a nuclear launch.—
FLORENCE GAUB,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share