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

In Utah, training starts with the basics of how AI works to teach an understanding of AI bias, hallucinations, ethical concerns and data privacy needs, Winters said. — ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026

The Fiat Topolino starts at under $15,000 and is Fiat’s first foray into the micromobility segment. — Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Build in breathing room, handle one useful task, and let a small shift protect your energy before the day starts running you. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026

Over time, without regular use, the back of the body can lose its functional capacity for deceleration, which is when chronic knee pain generally starts to show up. — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

But as the weather starts to take a dip, windbreakers are positioned to pick up the proverbial sportswear baton while reasserting their position as the ultimate transitional jacket. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 20 Aug. 2026

Like Pierce, the University of Central Florida doctoral student starts her walking routine early. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026

Who starts at left-back, Riccardo Calafiori or Piero Hincapie? — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

And that starts with increasing the resources dedicated toward health and expanding the number of health clinics within the county, according to Gasper. — Sofi Zeman august 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026

Noun

In his seven starts as a rookie last season, Sanders threw seven touchdown passes and nine interceptions. — Nbc Sports, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026

Ezeudu appeared in all 17 games for the Giants in 2024 in a reserve role, which included two more starts at left tackle and one as an extra lineman. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026

DeGrom has surrendered 26 runs in the first inning over his 25 starts this season and 61 runs overall. — CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

What the second wave of shopping looks like Even with the earlier start, 57% of parents plan to shop for school supplies after school starts, MRI-Simmons found. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026

The left-hander had three straight wins to begin April but hasn’t in 21 starts since. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

Bakwa also made eight Europa League appearances for the club, including three starts. — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Here’s what pet owners should know when their dog’s rear starts raising questions, and what to keep an eye on before turning the other cheek. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

The two main elementary and middle school districts that feed into Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Homewood District 153 and Flossmoor District 161, also delayed their starts, Norrell said. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026