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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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start

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noun

starting

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adjective

starting

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verb (2)

present participle of start
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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
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
  • Only Part of It Hails From Ingolstadt At the beginning of the 1990s, both Audi and Porsche needed help.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 10 June 2025
  • Setting realistic expectations from the very beginning will create more meaningful relationships with clients that are built on trust.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • The project saw its construction costs triple from an initial request for proposals estimate of $54 million in 2021 to its final budget of $152 million, which was presented to the University of California Board of Regents for approval in 2022.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
  • The film added an additional $30 million overseas, propelling its initial worldwide tally to $60 million.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 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
  • The international expansion comes after Anti Social Social Club had largely stuck to its direct-to-consumer, drop model since its inception.
    Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 13 June 2025
  • The campaign has raised over $10 million since its inception.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • This is such a pivotal New York City song that Lorne Michaels asked Simon to sing it on the first SNL after 9/11.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 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
  • SpaceX's record for reusing a Falcon 9 first stage stands at 28 launches.
    Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 13 June 2025
  • Ghani noted how over 70,000 members have been with Prime since its initial launch in 2005.
    Natalie Berg, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

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