1
as in to begin
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
4
as in to activate
to cause to function
trying to start the car on a frigid morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
6
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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.
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Recent Examples of start
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The aircraft starts at $190,000 with the option of purchasing a transport trailer for $21,000 and a charger for $1,100.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Devin Parr, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Good start, good middle, good finish.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
That put rookie Kasparas Jakucionis in the starting lineup for the third time.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
This could easily be about bringing a writing project into the world or starting some sort of local establishment for artists or lovers of nightlife.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for start
Verb
Humanoid robots and autonomous cars could end up taking significantly longer than Musk hopes, and the company is facing stiffer competition than, say, Tesla and SpaceX did when they were getting started.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The aircraft starts at $190,000 with the option of purchasing a transport trailer for $21,000 and a charger for $1,100.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
For them, building a wine with aging potential starts long before harvest—knowing the vineyard and soil, controlling production, choosing the right picking moment, selecting fruit and deciding in advance whether the wine will be aged in stainless steel, oak or concrete.
—Devin Parr, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Good start, good middle, good finish.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Holding Giddey out of the starting lineup almost allowed the Bulls to retain their two-big rotation — which features centers Jalen Smith and Nikola Vučević — without sacrificing the defensive presence of Matas Buzelis and Isaac Okoro.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
That put rookie Kasparas Jakucionis in the starting lineup for the third time.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
Kyiv, which has grappled with severe power shortages this winter, is forecast to enter a brutally cold stretch starting Friday that is expected to last into next week.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
This could easily be about bringing a writing project into the world or starting some sort of local establishment for artists or lovers of nightlife.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Noun
-
That’s been around since the beginning of time.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Banfield's at-times tense testimony comes after his attorney scrutinized the county's investigation into the defendant, arguing that officials, almost since the beginning, forced a theory that the husband had catfished and killed his wife, and ignored evidence that undermined that conclusion.—
OLIVIA DIAZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These two agents appear to be the two officers identified as the shooters in an initial report by the Department of Homeland Security about the incident.—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
During an initial court appearance Thursday, a judge granted the government's request to detain Kazmierczak pending a detention hearing Tuesday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
By moving some commencements away from increasingly costly private sites, the financially ailing school district could have saved about half a million dollars a year.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Elyce Arons, founder and chief executive officer of Frances Valentine, will deliver the keynote address to the Class of 2026 at LIM College‘s annual commencement.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Treasury’s move to sever all remaining ties with Booz Allen comes on the opening day of the 2026 tax filing season, and that’s likely no coincidence.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Pre-opening events will offer free meals to the first 200 guests on select days.—
Teresa Stepzinski,
Florida Times-Union,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
What Rusbridger’s account leaves out is that the BBC has reproduced the prejudices of successive British establishments since its inception in the early twentieth century, whether by propagandizing against workers during the general strike of 1926 or by condemning the antiwar protests of 2003.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
For the first time since its inception, Gmail will now let users change their primary @gmail address.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
If approved for the public safety role, Williams would be Pittsburgh's first Black director of the department.—
Chilekasi Adele,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Johnson was around in 2013 when Dave Gettleman took defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short in the first and second rounds, respectively, in Gettleman’s first draft as Carolina’s GM.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While Rodgers had a relatively productive first season with the Steelers, the 42-year-old quarterback is undoubtedly much closer to the sunset of his storied career than the onset.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This could be a sign of early-onset supplement psychosis.—
Alyssa Brandt,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
No Man's Sky's dogfighting model is notable for its shift from the simple, arcade combat present at launch to the more advanced systems in the game now.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The company said that many of its partners have notched significant launch milestones with their respective rockets in the past year.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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