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

Boston will face either the Philadelphia 76ers or Orlando Magic in a best-of-seven series that starts Sunday afternoon at TD Garden. —Matt Schooley, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026

The Vatican says fighting corruption in the mineral-rich country and insisting on the correct uses of political authority are expected to be themes of Leo’s visit, which starts Wednesday with his arrival in Yaounde, the capital. —ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026

The 2026 edition of the annual IFPDA Print Fair closed Sunday with record attendance and strong sales, offering an early look at what happens when a fair built on prints starts to stretch beyond them. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 14 Apr. 2026

Every solid travel wardrobe starts with a reliable white tee, and this $9 Wiholl cap-sleeve option is seriously good. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2026

Consecutive starts to close out the regular season, the games leading to Tuesday night’s play-in showdown against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026

Redevelopment has been contemplated in fits and starts for decades. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

Among the models launched last year, the 12-inch Surface Pro now starts at $1,049, up $250 from its launch price of $799. —Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026

And in a city that changes as quickly as Charlotte, dependability starts to feel like heritage. —Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026

Noun

Allen, a Miami native and son of Heat assistant coach Malik Allen, averaged 24 minutes per game and made 18 starts as a freshman. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026

Song has five starts at shortstop, three at second, two at third base and two at DH. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026

Cole joined Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in major league history to strike out at least 11 in three consecutive starts to start a season. —Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026

Pittsburgh has scored 38 runs in Skenes' four starts this season after totaling 37 runs in his first 11 outings last year. —ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026

Schlittler walked his first batter in four starts this season when Yandy Díaz got a free pass in the third. —CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026

The rotation gives each of the three starters six days of rest between starts and backs Ohtani’s start up against the off day on Thursday, giving him a chance to recover following his next two-way day. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026

In his last three starts before the All-Star break, Alcantara gave up 24 hits and 18 earned runs in 17 innings. —Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026