start 1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈstärt How to pronounce start (audio)
Definition of startnext
1
as in to begin
to come into existence the fight started when one child tripped the other

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2
as in to commence
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) we'll be ready to start the concert in a moment

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3
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of started the impressionist movement in art

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4
as in to activate
to cause to function trying to start the car on a frigid morning

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5
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

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6
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point frightened horses with starting eyes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

start

2 of 4

noun (1)

as in beginning
the point at which something begins knew from the start of the game that he would win easily

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starts

3 of 4

verb (2)

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

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2
as in founds
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of started the impressionist movement in art

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in activates
to cause to function trying to start the car on a frigid morning

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in begins
to come into existence the fight started when one child tripped the other

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in protrudes
to extend outward beyond a usual point frightened horses with starting eyes

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

starts

4 of 4

noun (2)

plural of start
as in beginnings
the point at which something begins knew from the start of the game that he would win easily

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word start different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of start are begin, commence, inaugurate, initiate, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How is begin related to other words for start?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How does the word commence relate to other synonyms for start?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When could inaugurate be used to replace start?

The meanings of inaugurate and start largely overlap; however, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

In what contexts can initiate take the place of start?

Although the words initiate and start have much in common, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of start?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

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 start
Verb
The Red Sox needed infield help and the club was overflowing with starting pitching depth. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026 Youmans said repaving could start as soon as June 8. —Rose Evans may 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2026
Noun
The Atlanta Braves have spent much of the 2026 season searching for pitching depth as injuries and inconsistency have tested the organization amid a strong start to the year. —Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 Smoltz attributed his slower starts to a conservative mindset and stressed the importance of making birdie putts. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
Verb
Hydroplaning is when a vehicle starts uncontrollably sliding on wet roads. —Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026 The standard Mochi Health subscription starts at $79 per month. —Jay Sparks, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Noun
Let Katie Holmes's latest outing convince you to make room in your closet for one more pair of sandals before the summer starts. —Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 26 May 2026 The touchscreen allows for easy controls and lets users visually preview the design before embroidering starts. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
  1. begin
  2. commence
  3. establish
  4. activate
  5. jump
  6. protrude
  7. beginning
  8. jumps
Verb
  • As the journey progresses, a male driver and his female companion (neither pictured on-screen) begin to discuss the Winkie.
    — Jonathan Odden, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Herein, begins the first of many game drives.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Definition of begin
Verb
  • Work will commence in the next 60 days and should be complete by the end of June 2027.
    — Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
  • But the City Council will need to sign off on those plans before building can commence, including how much of the sales tax revenue from the stadium will go toward paying off the city’s bond debt.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
Definition of commence
Verb
  • The company's Pegasus rover is designed as part of a broader effort to establish a more permanent human presence on the moon.
    — Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 6 June 2026
  • The duo established themselves as fixtures of the tabloid era known for staging paparazzi photos, fueling feuds and embracing the attention that came with being reality television’s most famous pair.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
Definition of establish
Verb
  • Raven Room is a great spot for happy hour, and the owners have been going to great lengths lately to activate the space with programming such as live music.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Mercury in Cancer, for instance, activates your partnership sector — followed by the sun later this month — bringing focus to romantic, business or close one-on-one dynamics.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • The noon filing deadline represented the last chance for candidates to jump into the competitive contests ahead of the August primaries.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
  • In one particularly embarrassing incident for the agency, a man not only jumped the fence but got to the front door of the White House and entered before being apprehended.
    — Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
Definition of jump
Verb
  • Elsewhere on the trophy, there are the original rules to soccer, from 1863, which include a proscription on players having nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha—a Malaysian rubberlike material, now used in root canals—protruding from their boots.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • The cups also feature a more angular design, visibly protruding rather than gradually curving.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 31 May 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • City Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy began raising the issue at the beginning of this month, and saw their resolution calling on the mayor to restore the cut backed, by an 11-0 vote, by the City Council.
    — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026
  • Lewis will be eligible to return to the major league roster for the beginning of a three-game series against the White Sox that starts Monday at Target Field.
    — John Shipley, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • Just as Stiller is about to finish his thought, a media member jumps into the interview with their phone out and asks Stiller for a shoutout to Puerto Rico.
    — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 8 June 2026
  • The show consisted of several competition-style events including races, jumps, doughnuts, high-flyers motocross 70-foot jumps and some serious car smashing.
    — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 7 June 2026
Definition of jumps

Phrases Containing start

Browse Nearby Words

star-spangled
start
started
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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on start

Nglish: Translation of start for Spanish Speakers

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