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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

started

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verb (2)

past tense of start
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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
Then, about 30 minutes after launch, Ship started to tumble, which was the result of a leak in Ship's fuel-tank systems, according to Huot. Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 May 2025 Born with Sickle Cell Disease, Woolford started a non-profit, Sickle Cell Reproductive Education Directive, that advocates for patients like herself. Katia Riddle, NPR, 28 May 2025
Noun
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch cited the importance of a strong start prior to the game. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 May 2025 Meanwhile, Bellinger, who won an MVP Award with the Dodgers in 2019, has found his footing after a rocky start, hitting .318 with five homers and 16 RBI this month. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 29 May 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
  • At the beginning of the 2022—2023 school year, Luis Hinojosa was appointed as the principal of Pitcher Elementary School, according to court documents.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
  • But at the beginning of Jonathan Tropper’s Your Friends and Neighbors, he’s fired from his job and divorced from his wife.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • As commencement ceremonies celebrate the promise of a new generation of graduates, one question looms: will AI make their education pointless?
    Erik Otárola-Castillo, Time, 7 June 2025
  • In a commencement ceremony in the Mustang Field, families and friends cheered as the graduates walked across the stage, marking the end of their high school careers and the beginning of their bright futures.
    Heather McRea, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • Since its inception, 189 designers have received mentoring and a total of more than $7.7 million in support.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 3 June 2025
  • Mulaney, a longtime fan who had listened to the podcast since its inception, repeatedly congratulated Maron on making the choice to go out on his own terms.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • There are people in the government who have made their intentions very clear at the onset, and those intentions were emptying Gaza of its inhabitants, expelling them, and returning the Jewish settlements there.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 21 May 2025
  • This alteration might trigger the onset of migraine or worsen migraine attacks, as well as causing more severe or frequent migraines.
    Brigid Dwyer, Verywell Health, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • SpaceX's broadband internet constellation grew again today (May 31), with the launch of 27 satellites into Earth orbit.
    Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 31 May 2025
  • This summer will mark the official launch of the DCU with Superman.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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