1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in activates
to cause to function
trying to start the car on a frigid morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in begins
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in protrudes
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beginnings
the point at which something begins
knew from the start of the game that he would win easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of starts
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
In the spring, Garrison starts tomatoes and other plants in the greenhouse, and her collection of citrus trees, hibiscus, macho ferns and Australian tree ferns make their home there in the winter.
—Mary Grace Granados, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
The base model starts at $1,599, while the higher-end Studio Display XDR starts at $3,299 and adds features aimed at more demanding professional use cases, including higher brightness, mini-LED backlighting and a faster refresh rate.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2026
The 16-inch M5 Pro model starts at $2,699, up from $2,499.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
This March, that starts with exploring your current mortgage interest rate options and carefully considering the answers to a series of critical (and timely) questions.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Instead of writing the story, the writer starts auditioning for attention.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday, March 3, the National Weather Service forecasts severe storms throughout Oklahoma starting in the evening, yet there is some lingering fire weather potential in northwest Oklahoma just before the rain starts.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 2 Mar. 2026
Planning for the future starts with being water wise today.
—Claire Marks, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
Mike Kaye
updated March 9, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
Leaning into faith over fear, the 31-year-old starts to learn how to let go.
—Larisha Paul, VIBE.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Strange, the 2022 first-round pick by the New England Patriots, made 14 starts for the Dolphins at right guard last season, replacing James Daniels and then Kion Smith.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
Safety was an area the Jets were expected to address in free agency, with Malachi Moore — who was solid in 14 starts as a rookie — the only player on the roster with significant playing time.
—Dennis Waszak, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
His career stats — 76 games, 60 starts, 11,844 yards, 69 touchdowns, 66 interceptions.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
Known for fast starts, Tucker has 28 career home runs during regular-season games in both March/April, as well as May.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
At Tampa Bay Downs, The Puma, winless in his only two prior previous starts, edged top choices Further Ado (2-1) and Canaletto (3-2) to win the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby at odds of 7-1.
—Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
That annoying voice in the back of the mind or deep in your gut starts to sound more convincing.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
Rather than a static snapshot, Blueprints track live behavior, so if an AI system starts acting outside its intended purpose, the platform flags it.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
In the spring, Garrison starts tomatoes and other plants in the greenhouse, and her collection of citrus trees, hibiscus, macho ferns and Australian tree ferns make their home there in the winter.
—Mary Grace Granados, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
The base model starts at $1,599, while the higher-end Studio Display XDR starts at $3,299 and adds features aimed at more demanding professional use cases, including higher brightness, mini-LED backlighting and a faster refresh rate.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2026
The 16-inch M5 Pro model starts at $2,699, up from $2,499.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
This March, that starts with exploring your current mortgage interest rate options and carefully considering the answers to a series of critical (and timely) questions.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Instead of writing the story, the writer starts auditioning for attention.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday, March 3, the National Weather Service forecasts severe storms throughout Oklahoma starting in the evening, yet there is some lingering fire weather potential in northwest Oklahoma just before the rain starts.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 2 Mar. 2026
Planning for the future starts with being water wise today.
—Claire Marks, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
Pickett appeared in six games (two starts) for the Raiders.
—Mike Kaye
updated March 9, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
Leaning into faith over fear, the 31-year-old starts to learn how to let go.
—Larisha Paul, VIBE.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Strange, the 2022 first-round pick by the New England Patriots, made 14 starts for the Dolphins at right guard last season, replacing James Daniels and then Kion Smith.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
Safety was an area the Jets were expected to address in free agency, with Malachi Moore — who was solid in 14 starts as a rookie — the only player on the roster with significant playing time.
—Dennis Waszak, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
His career stats — 76 games, 60 starts, 11,844 yards, 69 touchdowns, 66 interceptions.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
Known for fast starts, Tucker has 28 career home runs during regular-season games in both March/April, as well as May.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
At Tampa Bay Downs, The Puma, winless in his only two prior previous starts, edged top choices Further Ado (2-1) and Canaletto (3-2) to win the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby at odds of 7-1.
—Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
That annoying voice in the back of the mind or deep in your gut starts to sound more convincing.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for starts
Verb
-
Pinkston player Larry Fite (01) jumps to block a shot during a Kimball High School versus Pinkston High School boys basketball playoff game at the Ellis Davis Field House in Dallas, Texas, on Mar 6, 2026.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The opera ends with Akhnaten’s son, presumably Tutankhamun, restoring polytheism, and then, once the staging jumps millennia into the future, it’s rediscovered by modern-day tourists.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Last year, people searching for missing relatives founds piles of shoes and other clothing, as well as bone fragments at what authorities later said was a Jalisco cartel recruitment and training site.—
Fabiola Sanchez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Last year, people searching for missing relatives founds piles of shoes and other clothing, as well as bone fragments, at what authorities later said was a Jalisco cartel recruitment and training site.—
Garrett Haake,
NBC news,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Within ComPair’s ‘HealTech’ material, a healing agent activates at higher temperatures.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The designation, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, activates authorities created under an executive order signed in September that expanded the government's ability to penalize countries accused of detaining Americans for political bargaining power.—
Camilla Schick,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The trade will not become official until the new league year begins on Wednesday.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Add all that to ideal daytime temps in the mid-70s, and a low chance of showers before the rainy season begins around June, and your last-minute CDMX trip practically plans itself.—
Annie Daly,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The other two types are subserosal (which protrudes on the outside of the uterus) and intramural (which grow within the muscle layer).—
Beth Krietsch,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Baleen is a specialized type of bone that protrudes from the jaws like teeth and is used to filter small critters from the ocean water to feed.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If the sales go through and drilling eventually commences, large portions of the trail could, in theory, become unusable, forcing a reroute to keep it viable as a recreation setting.—
Alex Heard,
Outside,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The strike will last until the union and the school district come to an agreement, which could mean hours or several days after the picket commences Thursday morning.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
North County is considered to be the cradle of skateboarding, which has grown from its rough around the edges beginnings into a billion dollar industry where icons like Tony Hawk have become global celebrities.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Staging and laying groundwork are excellent uses of days that don’t facilitate successful beginnings.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The solid dramatic framework that Gyllenhaal establishes drives events onward with relentless force, and her film is devilishly clever in its fusion of gothic horror and film-noir tropes.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Each track establishes a groove, makes its point, and moves on just as quickly.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Starts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/starts. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
