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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start

2 of 4

noun (1)

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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starts

3 of 4

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of start
1
as in jumps
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 founds
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of started the impressionist movement in art

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3
as in activates
to cause to function trying to start the car on a frigid morning

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4
as in begins
to come into existence the fight started when one child tripped the other

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5
as in protrudes
to extend outward beyond a usual point frightened horses with starting eyes

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6
as in commences
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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starts

4 of 4

noun (2)

plural of start
as in beginnings
the point at which something begins knew from the start of the game that he would win easily

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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
Verb
Pricing for the off-road caravan starts at $60,900. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025 The 2025 Toyota Tacoma starts at $31,590 and is the brand's current smallest truck for the American market. —Charles Singh, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
Future Mavs superstars Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Dončić had similarly slow starts to their career, with the pair scoring only 12 points combined in their debuts. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025 George Kirby Another young starter, this time for Seattle, pitched to the tale of two starts. —Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for start

Phrases Containing start

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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 30 Oct. 2025.

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