Synonyms of starts

starts 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of start

1

as in jumps

to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)

I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jumps
• winces
• leaps
• cringes
• startles
• flinches
• reacts
• bolts
• twitches
• jerks
• responds
• recoils
• shrinks
• springs
• jolts
• spooks
• bounds
• blenches
• quails
• squinches

2

as in founds

to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of

started the impressionist movement in art

Synonyms & Similar Words

• founds
• establishes
• initiates
• begins
• launches
• introduces
• creates
• institutes
• pioneers
• inaugurates
• plants
• constitutes
• originates
• innovates
• organizes
• constructs
• develops
• invents
• sets up
• authors
• produces
• fathers
• manufactures
• conceives
• devises
• concocts
• expands
• thinks (up)
• cooks (up)
• contrives
• enlarges
• makes up
• subsidizes
• endows
• arranges
• finances
• fabricates
• funds
• systematizes
• reinitiates
• relaunches
• systemizes
• reinstitutes
• refounds
• puts up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closes (down)
• ends
• shuts (up)
• stops
• finishes
• abolishes
• terminates
• annihilates
• nullifies
• halts
• annuls
• phases out
• rounds (off or out)
• winds up
• wraps up

3

as in activates

to cause to function

trying to start the car on a frigid morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activates
• triggers
• sparks
• drives
• moves
• generates
• powers
• fuels
• runs
• ignites
• sets off
• provokes
• actuates
• turns on
• pushes
• launches
• touches off
• cranks (up)
• fires
• charges
• stimulates
• energizes
• electrifies
• switches
• accelerates
• turns over
• releases
• trips
• reactivates
• excites
• arouses
• kick-starts
• incites
• kicks over
• instigates
• quickens
• recharges
• discharges
• jump-starts
• catalyzes
• speeds (up)
• stirs up
• steps up
• vitalizes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• kills
• stops
• cuts
• turns off
• shuts off
• brakes
• arrests
• cuts out
• halts
• checks
• sticks
• stalls
• jams
• slows
• deactivates
• cuts off
• suppresses
• draws up
• represses
• decelerates
• stunts

4

as in begins

to come into existence

the fight started when one child tripped the other

Synonyms & Similar Words

• begins
• commences
• originates
• arises
• appears
• is
• emerges
• arrives
• forms
• springs
• engenders
• exists
• breaks
• dawns
• lasts
• materializes
• sets in
• lives
• actualizes
• continues
• breathes
• persists
• survives
• comes on
• subsists
• endures
• shapes (up)
• coalesces
• coheres

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ends
• stops
• ceases
• concludes
• finishes
• terminates
• disappears
• halts
• quits
• vanishes
• dissolves
• dies
• evaporates
• departs
• expires
• discontinues
• desists
• perishes
• passes away

5

as in protrudes

to extend outward beyond a usual point

frightened horses with starting eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protrudes
• pokes
• juts
• bulges
• stands out
• swells
• sticks out
• projects
• pouts
• extends
• billows
• overhangs
• bunches
• beetles
• pouches
• lengthens
• bellies
• balloons
• bags
• stretches
• inflates
• expands
• dilates
• pooches
• distends
• elongates
• domes
• mushrooms
• snowballs
• blows up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shrinks
• contracts
• condenses
• compresses
• constricts

6

as in commences

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

• begins
• commences
• opens
• launches
• falls (to)
• creates
• enters (into or upon)
• strikes (into)
• initiates
• gets going
• embarks (on or upon)
• gets off
• generates
• gets to
• leads off
• sets about
• originates
• organizes
• establishes
• kicks off
• adopts
• invents
• inaugurates
• founds
• institutes
• spawns
• innovates
• fathers
• embraces
• takes on
• takes up
• gets down (to)
• gets around (to)
• sets up
• pioneers
• gets round (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ends
• concludes
• finishes
• stops
• terminates
• ceases
• closes
• halts
• completes
• quits
• discontinues
• leaves
• abandons
• desists
• destroys
• lays off
• forsakes
• knocks off
• abolishes
• extinguishes
• demolishes
• exterminates
• phases out

starts

2 of 2

noun

plural of start

as in beginnings

the point at which something begins

knew from the start of the game that he would win easily

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beginnings
• launches
• inceptions
• onsets
• commencements
• alphas
• dawns
• thresholds
• geneses
• outsets
• day ones
• baselines
• mornings
• kickoffs
• incipiencies
• incipiences
• births
• nascencies
• infancies
• originations
• nascences
• get-goes
• initiations
• origins
• first bases
• inaugurations
• drawing boards
• ground zeros
• debuts
• square ones
• springs
• cradles
• arrivals
• emergences
• institutions
• openings
• fountains
• germs
• sources
• creations
• wells
• appearances
• roots
• fountainheads
• advents
• wellsprings
• childhoods
• youths
• seedbeds

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ends
• closes
• conclusions
• endings
• stops
• finishes
• periods
• closures
• completions
• terminations
• closings
• omegas
• cessations
• finales
• windups

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of starts

Verb

What starts as harmless tailing quickly evolves into something much more dangerous — Bret’s high-speed pursuit isn’t subtle, and Robert turns the tables on him by pulling over and then tapping Bret’s Mercedes 450SL from behind. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026

That starts with creating a clear connection between your domain, website, social profiles, customer communications and digital experiences. — Matt Overman, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

That’s why the current range-topping model, the SV Ultra, starts at $252,800. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2026

Passaic mayor Hector Lora said crews have been searching along a nine-mile stretch of the river that starts along the Passaic-Garfield border, down to Newark, and will focus on an area near Rutherford when the search resumes. — Christina Fan, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Exploring the Greats starts with four classic works of literature – The Odyssey, Moby-Dick, Plato’s Republic, and Othello. — Peter White, Deadline, 30 July 2026

If Cantwell starts the season at left tackle, expect Okunlola at left guard. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026

In comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, while the 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 30 July 2026

His experience of taking on responsibility week-in, week-out — having made 55 appearances for Palace last season, all starts — is valuable. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Noun

Kremer has allowed 12 home runs in seven starts this year, avoiding a home run in only one of those turns and ceding multiple homers in three of them. — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026

The two-time All-Star was 0-4 in his final seven starts for New York and hasn’t won since pitching five innings in an 8-1 victory over the Braves on June 14. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

Additionally, Dobnak became the second Royals pitcher in franchise history to allow four hits or fewer in each of his first four starts with the club — joining Rob Tejada (2008-09). — Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

Billy Ho has missed the cut in four of his last five starts, including last week’s Rocket Classic. — Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026

The 29-year-old has appeared in 67 NFL games with 29 starts, including six starts last season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. — Tyler M. Carmona, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026

Gausman, 35, posted two quality starts against the Dodgers in last year’s World Series. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Landen Roupp entered play having allowed just three earned runs over his last three starts but couldn’t find the strike zone against Milwaukee, allowing four runs over 3 2/3 innings with three walks. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 July 2026

But his mental anguish is upsetting the balance of his cross-species DNA, first with paralyzing headaches and gradually with an internal battle as his arachnid side starts overpowering his human side. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026