Synonyms of starting

starting 1 of 2

adjective

as in beginning

Related Words

• beginning
• initial
• opening
• first
• earliest
• pioneer
• original
• inaugural
• foremost
• maiden
• primary
• leadoff
• headmost
• eminent
• premier
• superior

Dissimilar Words

• last
• final
• latter
• concluding
• latest
• following
• terminal
• ultimate
• succeeding
• lag
• closing
• terminating
• eventual
• ensuing
• consequent
• rearmost
• hindmost
• bottommost
• crowning
• decisive
• conclusive
• definitive

starting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of start

1

as in jumping

to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)

I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jumping
• leaping
• cringing
• wincing
• startling
• bolting
• flinching
• twitching
• jerking
• reacting
• responding
• springing
• shrinking
• recoiling
• jolting
• bounding
• blenching
• spooking
• quailing
• squinching

2

as in establishing

to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of

started the impressionist movement in art

Synonyms & Similar Words

• establishing
• founding
• initiating
• launching
• introducing
• creating
• beginning
• pioneering
• instituting
• inaugurating
• planting
• constructing
• constituting
• originating
• organizing
• innovating
• developing
• producing
• setting up
• inventing
• devising
• manufacturing
• authoring
• expanding
• thinking (up)
• cooking (up)
• conceiving
• funding
• enlarging
• financing
• making up
• concocting
• subsidizing
• fathering
• arranging
• contriving
• fabricating
• endowing
• relaunching
• systematizing
• reinitiating
• reinstituting
• putting up
• refounding
• systemizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closing (down)
• shutting (up)
• ending
• finishing
• abolishing
• phasing out
• stopping
• terminating
• halting
• nullifying
• annihilating
• annulling
• winding up
• rounding (off or out)
• wrapping up

3

as in activating

to cause to function

trying to start the car on a frigid morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activating
• triggering
• sparking
• driving
• moving
• generating
• powering
• fueling
• running
• pushing
• setting off
• igniting
• turning on
• charging
• provoking
• touching off
• launching
• actuating
• firing
• cranking (up)
• switching
• releasing
• electrifying
• energizing
• turning over
• stimulating
• accelerating
• tripping
• discharging
• reactivating
• exciting
• kicking over
• recharging
• inciting
• kick-starting
• instigating
• stirring up
• jump-starting
• quickening
• arousing
• catalyzing
• stepping up
• vitalizing
• speeding (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cutting
• killing
• stopping
• checking
• sticking
• cutting out
• shutting off
• turning off
• halting
• arresting
• cutting off
• stalling
• braking
• drawing up
• slowing
• jamming
• deactivating
• suppressing
• repressing
• decelerating
• stunting

4

as in commencing

to come into existence

the fight started when one child tripped the other

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beginning
• commencing
• originating
• appearing
• arising
• being
• forming
• arriving
• emerging
• springing
• existing
• living
• breaking
• dawning
• continuing
• actualizing
• materializing
• setting in
• lasting
• engendering
• breathing
• surviving
• coming on
• subsisting
• persisting
• shaping (up)
• coalescing
• enduring
• cohering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• stopping
• ceasing
• finishing
• terminating
• concluding
• discontinuing
• halting
• quitting
• disappearing
• vanishing
• dying
• dissolving
• evaporating
• departing
• desisting
• expiring
• passing away
• perishing

5

as in protruding

to extend outward beyond a usual point

frightened horses with starting eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protruding
• poking
• projecting
• bulging
• standing out
• swelling
• jutting
• sticking out
• bunching
• extending
• pouting
• billowing
• ballooning
• overhanging
• bagging
• bellying
• pooching
• pouching
• stretching
• beetling
• expanding
• lengthening
• inflating
• snowballing
• mushrooming
• dilating
• distending
• doming
• elongating
• blowing up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contracting
• shrinking
• condensing
• compressing
• constricting

6

as in launching

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

• beginning
• commencing
• launching
• opening
• falling (to)
• creating
• entering (into or upon)
• initiating
• striking (into)
• embarking (on or upon)
• getting off
• organizing
• generating
• getting to
• originating
• establishing
• getting going
• leading off
• adopting
• setting about
• kicking off
• inventing
• inaugurating
• founding
• instituting
• spawning
• innovating
• pioneering
• embracing
• taking up
• taking on
• fathering
• setting up
• getting down (to)
• getting around (to)
• getting round (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• finishing
• stopping
• terminating
• concluding
• ceasing
• discontinuing
• completing
• halting
• closing
• leaving
• quitting
• laying off
• abandoning
• destroying
• desisting
• knocking off
• abolishing
• forsaking
• extinguishing
• exterminating
• demolishing
• phasing out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of starting

Adjective

McDowell, who was in the starting lineup for his Demon Deacons debut, hit 3 of 8 shots versus Georgetown. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026

Pochettino made six changes from the starting lineup in Friday’s 3-0 win over Mexico in Glendale, Arizona. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Jayden Daniels could be ready for Week 5 Jayden Daniels’ return to the starting lineup could be just one week away. — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

The starting lineup for the Fever just couldn't get much going. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

He was chosen as part of Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and was part of the starting lineup in the team’s first two group stage matches, a 1–1 draw with Morocco and a 3–0 win against Haiti. — Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

Senior Jordan Lester was thrust into the starting role after the dismissal of Jacob Fields and Lester struggled at times against UNC. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Sep. 2026

Stribling had 11 catches for 109 yards in brief action in his first two preseason games to solidify a starting role alongside veteran Mike Evans. — CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Miami moved safety Bryce Fitzgerald to outside cornerback and inserted freshman JJ Dunnigan into the starting lineup for his first career start. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

Verb

And starting next year, the league wants to introduce a form of re-seeding in the playoffs. — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Katseye member Sophia Laforteza will resume activities with the group starting the first week of January 2027, according to a notice posted to their social media accounts. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Back in his hometown and starting a business, Fenton is excited to officially open the doors, with plans to offer weekly events and music performances. — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Scientists are starting to uncover the links between being a night owl and some neuropsychiatric conditions. — Ariana Eunjung Cha, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Now our phones are starting to look for what happens after the conversation begins. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Up next Tampa Bay gets four days off and will have played just three games in 14 days before starting the ALCS. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

For the well over 100,000 people set to stream into Discovery Park in Sacramento starting Thursday for the four-day Aftershock music festival, the weather will be a key concern. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

But the paychecks that have powered that spending are starting to lose steam. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026