start 1 of 2

1
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

2 of 2

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
Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, lost hundreds of trees following the destruction from Hurricane Helene last fall, with players commenting on it ahead of the Masters starting this week. Fox News Staff, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025 The pause came hours after the European Union voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods, starting April 15, in response to Trump’s previously announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum—which remain in effect. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
Most products aren’t made and assembled from start to end in one country. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 9 Apr. 2025 Walmart stock was off to a hot start Wednesday morning, climbing 4 points (5.0%) in the first hour of trading. Kevin Ryan, Quartz, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Verb
  • The report also notes that saving intentions for middle-income Americans jumped by 2.4 points in April while their intent to use debt fell 2.5 points.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The folks at Hugging Face, the open-source artificial intelligence gurus, just jumped into the world of robotics by acquiring Pollen Robotics.
    Fox News Staff, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Coogler established himself, with Creed and his two Black Panthermovies, as a filmmaker with propulsive, novel takes on franchise fare.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The Smithsonian Institution was first established by Congress with funding from British scientist James Smithson.
    Lauren Peller, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • According to the statement, one NFI and one WFI were activated on April 14, and the other two NFIs were activated on April 16.
    Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Troopers located the Tesla and allegedly observed the vehicle traveling in the center lane at approximately 30 mph with its four-way hazard lights activated.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • WrestleMania 41 Day 2 begins at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT on Peacock in the United States, with the kickoff show starting an hour earlier.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The European Union has begun to issue its U.S.-bound officials burner phones, for fear of surveillance, the Financial Times reported.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The two rear cameras live in a small module that protrudes less than a millimeter from the back case.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Well down the mountainside a small ledge protruded from the sharp ridge like a bulbous growth.
    Percy Brown, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Around the same time, the company commenced an aggressive play for the college sports insurance market, introducing a novel contract protection product for NIL collectives while also trying to get into the critical injury coverage niche.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Production on the second season of Nobody Wants This commenced in March 2025.
    Michael Nied, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • At the beginning of last year, Del Rey shared a snippet of the ballad without any context.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2025
  • At the beginning of the 2005 season, then–NBA Commissioner David Stern implemented a dress code.
    D. Watkins, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Businesses are wary of making those investments, citing uncertainty in operating conditions initiated by Trump’s tariff push, which has been rolled out in fits and starts.
    Tobias Burns, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The recall, initiated by Blooming Import Inc. in Brooklyn, New York, affects 74 cases of Golden Crop Candy, which included the dyes Blue 1, Red 40 and Acid Red 18, which were not listed on the product label.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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