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

But as we’re ushered down a meandering trail, the entire atmosphere starts changing. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026

The problem starts, though, when pricing isn't clearly disclosed upfront. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026

For garlic, the sweet spot generally starts around one to two cloves per day. —Lauren Manaker, SELF, 17 Feb. 2026

Observant Muslims the world over will soon be united in a ritual of daily fasting from before dawn to sunset as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan starts. —Mariam Fam, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026

Hydroplaning is when a vehicle starts uncontrollably sliding on wet roads. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Feb. 2026

Prune junipers during the growing season, not during the coldest part of winter, preferably in early spring, before new growth starts. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2026

The film follows a Texas preacher that leaves the state for Louisiana and starts preaching on the radio. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Feb. 2026

While many take full advantage of sleeping in on the weekend, mine starts by crossing state lines to clash plastic chess pieces across a green-and-buff rollup vinyl board. —Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026

Noun

Pivetta finished sixth in National League Cy Young voting while working with Elías Díaz in all 31 of his regular-season starts last season. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026

James was selected as a reserve, breaking his NBA record of 21 consecutive starts but extending his record for most appearances to 22. —Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026

An oblique injury shortly before spring training last year, followed by a reaggravation, ultimately limited Assad to just eight big-league appearances (seven starts). —Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026

Strood pitched 6⅓ innings and allowed three runs in a win over Northwestern, but hasn't pitched more than two innings in her other two starts this season. —Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026

Meanwhile, Little Miss Curlin lost for the first time in five starts, coming north after cleaning out the competition in her native Louisiana. —Bob Wisener, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026

He is expected to garner a handful of starts as Lugo and Michael Wacha are away due to World Baseball Classic commitments. —Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2026

Heck, 2011-17 Kershaw basically doubles deGrom’s starts and innings. —Jayson Stark, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026

Here's when daylight saving time 2026 starts What is Lent? —Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Feb. 2026