1
2
as in to establish
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 to activate
to cause to function
trying to start the car on a frigid morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to begin
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beginning
the point at which something begins
knew from the start of the game that he would win easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in initial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in commencing
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 start
Harriet Shepherd, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025
According to the Safety Action Plan website, the plan started to be developed in summer 2024 and will be completed this spring.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Mittelstadt had a strong postseason for Colorado and got off to a good start this season, but his game has since taken a downturn.
—Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 6 Mar. 2025
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Pickett is active but not starting, meaning Tanner McKee gets an opportunity to make his first NFL start.
—Adam Gretz, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start
Verb
Photographed by Ace Amir When Melancon started masking some 30 years ago, the accepted story of the Mardi Gras Indians started with the slave revolt.
—Harriet Shepherd, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025
According to the Safety Action Plan website, the plan started to be developed in summer 2024 and will be completed this spring.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
After nine starts, five sacks and 22 tackles last season, Bosa commanded more than $36 million of the Chargers’ salary cap in 2025, the largest cap hit for any edge rusher in the league, according to Overthecap.com.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Mittelstadt had a strong postseason for Colorado and got off to a good start this season, but his game has since taken a downturn.
—Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
Perhaps Finch is leaning on a couple of recent games against high-caliber competition for optimism about his starting five.
—Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Pickett is active but not starting, meaning Tanner McKee gets an opportunity to make his first NFL start.
—Adam Gretz, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Noun
-
Like Thomas [Bangalter] did help us at the very beginning on a couple of things, doing pre-mastering.—
Seth Abramovitch,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Post has been dating Christy Lee since the beginning of this year, sources told the outlet.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
While the team has become the most successful spring football league franchise, dating back to the years of the initial United States Football League in the 1980s, the Stallions’ growing trophy collection hasn’t quite translated to the team’s bottom line.—
Eric Jackson,
Sportico.com,
6 Mar. 2025
-
The information released by the state to the public gives no indication what might happen if an inmate survives the initial shots.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Following the commencement of the band’s U.K. and Ireland tour, Fontaines D.C.’s fourth LP Romance rises 15 places to finish the week at No. 13; the record originally went to No. 2 in August, and was beaten to the top spot during Carpenter’s reign at the top of the charts.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
6 Dec. 2024
-
In 1979, Radner gave the commencement speech—fully in character as Roseanne Roseannadanna—to the graduating class at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, part of which wound up on her comedy album Gilda Radner: Live From New York, released that same year.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Since its inception, NASA has selected 61 women to be astronauts, and the first all-female spacewalk, carried out by NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir, occurred outside the International Space Station in October 2019.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN,
27 Feb. 2025
-
In particular, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party called repeatedly for renewing Israeli settlement in Gaza—for resurrecting an enterprise that Oded had rightly denounced from its inception as a disaster for Israel.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Now Tennessee has staked a claim to the first No. 1 seed in program history with a stirring comeback, charging back from a nine-point deficit in the final 10 minutes.—
Joe Rexrode,
The Athletic,
2 Mar. 2025
-
On the other hand, Creed is a seasoned campaigner in the Xfinity Series but is still chasing his first win.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Cowart’s mother, Faye Cowart, has early onset Alzheimer’s and struggles with being in a new place.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC News,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Exercise increases core temperature, leading to a more rapid decline in temperature post-exercise, hastening sleep onset and deepening sleep.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
If successful, Starship's reusability could significantly reduce the cost per launch.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
8 Mar. 2025
-
This marked the second consecutive test flight that ended in Starship—the largest space launch system ever built—exploding in flight.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share