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

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

starting

3 of 4

adjective

as in initial

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Dissimilar Words

starting

4 of 4

verb (2)

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

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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

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

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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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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
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky put the gains made by Vivaldi even higher, saying 176 square kilometers (68 square miles) had been recaptured and 5,000 Russian troops either wounded or killed since the operation started. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 The post started with a Polaroid image of Sweeney in a one-piece red bathing suit. — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
Ray Kerr’s stunning Game 3 start against the Phillies will live in Braves lore forever. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026 The moratorium is part of the stop-and-start use of executions in Tennessee the last few years. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
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
Verb
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 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. originate
Verb
  • Once the playoffs began, New York has looked like a different team, and twice blew out top-seed Minnesota to advance.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The White House originally said checks would begin in October, but the administration official told CNBC the first batch went out this Wednesday.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of begin
Verb
  • It has been known since the 1970s for yielding Roman artifacts, but an organized investigation did not commence until 2017, when geophysical surveys exposed a first-century fortification there.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The mountain, known to the Indigenous inhabitants of the region as the Six Grandfathers, was considered sacred, and construction commenced over the vehement objections of Native Americans.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of commence
Verb
  • The administration’s language would establish a range of mandatory minimum sentences based on the amount of loss involved in fraud schemes, according to the document.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Lafayette 148 will open its first Dallas boutique at NorthPark Center Tuesday, establishing a dedicated presence in the 30-year-old brand’s top five markets.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of establish
Verb
  • Choose from heat mode or cool mode depending on the season, and then activate night mode for the quietest settings and a dimmer display.
    — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In order to promote its use, new ShipStation customers who choose to activate Ship with Walmart will be given a 20 percent discount on their annual subscription.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • Barkley delivered a nasty spin move that left him slightly sideways, forcing him to jump and then leapfrog backward.
    — Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Shares of Palantir have jumped nearly 47% over the past three months.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of jump
Verb
  • Ping Ping, the male, has dark black circles around his eyes, while Fu Shuang, the female, has a forehead that protrudes a bit, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • As has the part where Reacher uses his left paw with two nails protruding from the palm as a makeshift Wolverine/Freddy Krueger stabbin’ hand.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Novelty is also being rewarded, and that is something Abundantia has factored in from the beginning.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The cutting edge facade is just the beginning of the sophisticated design of the hotel, both inside and out.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • Most government seizures are made through mail and express-courier services, rather than through shipping containers, and many of the shipments originate in China and Hong Kong.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The show originated as an idea by CAA’s Community & Impact (formerly CAA Foundation) in memory of Huvane.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of originate

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 9 Oct. 2026.

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