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
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4
as in to begin
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
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5
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
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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
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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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1
as in jumped
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 founded
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 triggered
to cause to function
trying to start the car on a frigid morning
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in began
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in protruded
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in commenced
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of start
Emma Alpern, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
Jimenez-Rico’s family had just returned home from a trip to Mexico when his dad and sister, 22-year-old Jocelyn Jimenez, started criticizing him about dirty dishes, according to records obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025
Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
Reid got off to a fast start Saturday night for the host Bulldogs, scoring eight of his team-high 16 points in the first quarter of a cliffhanger 53-47 loss to Burlington Central.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
The cold of the night had returned, and the baby had started to shiver.
—Karen Zautyk, New York Daily News, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for start 
Verb
In 1982, a series of women’s and girls’ bodies started to appear in the fields near Route 99 in Washington.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
Jimenez-Rico’s family had just returned home from a trip to Mexico when his dad and sister, 22-year-old Jocelyn Jimenez, started criticizing him about dirty dishes, according to records obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025
Noun
As of Monday, data from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) show that despite the abnormally dry start to winter for Southern California, most of the state's major reservoirs are performing above average for this time of year.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
Reid got off to a fast start Saturday night for the host Bulldogs, scoring eight of his team-high 16 points in the first quarter of a cliffhanger 53-47 loss to Burlington Central.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
That’s quite a feat for a team that started playing football in 1925.
—Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
The cold of the night had returned, and the baby had started to shiver.
—Karen Zautyk, New York Daily News, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Noun
-
Represents new beginnings, growth, vision, community spirit and creativity; the element of spring.—
Athena Sobhan,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Said to be the original influencer, the documentary shows her rise from humble beginnings to Wall Street trader to homemaking entrepreneurial queen.—
Jeffrey Edell,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
On Thursday, Trinity Gas Storage announced commencement of operations at its 24 bcf (billion cubic feet) storage unit located near Carthage in East Texas, about 160 miles southeast of Dallas.—
David Blackmon,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
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In theory, TikTok could announce the commencement of negotiations with a potential buyer and urge President Joe Biden to grant the 90-day extension before the ban takes effect, experts said.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But opinions on this issue have actually remained pretty consistently in favor of the Paris agreement since its inception: 62 percent of Americans were opposed when Trump withdrew from it for the first time back in 2017, and the same share supported Biden's decision to rejoin in 2021.—
Mary Radcliffe,
ABC News,
22 Jan. 2025
-
That is the total population of Norway (as of 2021) and the total number of medals its’ athletes have won at the Winter Olympics since their inception..—
Tim Genske,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
For example, the American Cancer Society reports that early onset colorectal cancer cases in adults younger than 50 grew by 2.4% each year from 2012-2021.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2025
-
But from the onset, the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere after the United States was beset by armed conflict, foreign interventions, repressive dictators, political violence, and heads of state whose personal ambitions and desire for power fanned instability and revolts.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Here’s to the week ahead, and don’t hesitate to reach out with comments, questions, feedback, joy, or news of a rocket launch in your future.—
Peter Green,
Quartz,
19 Jan. 2025
-
The meme coin’s developers have limited the supply of $TRUMP to 200 million coins at launch before expanding the overall supply to 1 billion over the next three years, according to the coin’s website.—
Ty Roush,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near start
Cite this Entry
“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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