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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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start

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noun

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
Keep reading for more Quince rugs starting at $100. Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025 What ostensibly started as a war against the flow of the deadly opioid fentanyl has now ballooned into a far broader clash – spanning rare earths, American soybean exports, technology controls and China’s energy dealings with Russia. Jhasua Razo, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
Woody Allen was getting a start there. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025 After coach Mike Gundy was fired following a 1-2 start, former KU offensive coordinator Doug Meacham was named interim coach for OSU. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Verb
  • Inspectors from the Ministry of Customs and Trade began to look into the firm’s finances.
    Moisés Naím, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Connolly began her political career when she was elected as a Labour Party member of Galway City Council in 1999.
    Fortune, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As one of Stephen King‘s scariest pieces of IP gets the HBO Max series treatment, the bloodbath has commenced with the first episode.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
  • If the case is not dismissed, a trial is set to commence early next year.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • While several states have passed bills to establish year-round daylight saving time, any changes require federal action.
    Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Because Moreno was not yet established, the Diamondbacks wanted an everyday outfielder in Gurriel, too.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The moon activating Neptune puts you in daydream mode.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The fat overload in astrocytes and microglia activates inflammatory pathways.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Melissa rapidly intensified, jumping from a 70 mph tropical storm on Saturday morning to a 140 mph Category 4 hurricane Sunday morning.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Net income jumped, coming in at $35 billion, a 33% increase.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Spider-y lash extensions protruded from her lash line, reaching to the bottom of her brows; a thin wing of black liner was drawn from the outer corners of her eyes.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The protruding bracket behind the air guide appears to be a cable guide, and the box behind the cable guide is a three-drive cage.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Teasing the new season at the beginning of the first episode, which dropped on Thursday, the entrepreneur and reality star is seen going into an MRI scanner with her head appearing to be bandaged.
    Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The embezzlement accusations would turn out to be just the beginning of Ozer’s troubles.
    Steve Belanger, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Bewildered, the space weather expert wanted to know if there could be space weather events that were smaller than coronal mass ejections and did not originate directly from solar eruptions.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Dating back to the 1800s, Brandy Snap cookie originated in England and become widely known for their thin, lacy texture and delicate crunch.
    Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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