Synonyms of start

start 1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈstärt 

1

as in to begin

to come into existence

the fight started when one child tripped the other

Synonyms & Similar Words

• begin
• commence
• originate
• appear
• arise
• be
• emerge
• form
• arrive
• set in
• spring
• materialize
• break
• exist
• live
• last
• dawn
• continue
• actualize
• engender
• breathe
• survive
• come on
• persist
• subsist
• endure
• shape (up)
• coalesce
• cohere

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stop
• end
• cease
• finish
• conclude
• quit
• terminate
• discontinue
• halt
• disappear
• die
• dissolve
• vanish
• depart
• desist
• expire
• evaporate
• perish
• pass away

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• begin
• commence
• open
• launch
• found
• fall (to)
• set about
• create
• get going
• enter (into or upon)
• embark (on or upon)
• strike (into)
• get off
• initiate
• get to
• lead off
• organize
• generate
• establish
• kick off
• originate
• adopt
• invent
• inaugurate
• pioneer
• institute
• innovate
• take up
• take on
• embrace
• spawn
• get down (to)
• get around (to)
• set up
• father
• get round (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• end
• finish
• stop
• conclude
• terminate
• cease
• quit
• discontinue
• complete
• halt
• close
• leave
• abandon
• lay off
• desist
• destroy
• abolish
• knock off
• extinguish
• forsake
• phase out
• exterminate
• demolish

3

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

• establish
• initiate
• found
• pioneer
• launch
• begin
• introduce
• create
• institute
• inaugurate
• plant
• constitute
• construct
• organize
• originate
• innovate
• set up
• develop
• invent
• author
• produce
• devise
• manufacture
• think (up)
• conceive
• expand
• fund
• make up
• cook (up)
• finance
• contrive
• concoct
• enlarge
• father
• arrange
• subsidize
• endow
• fabricate
• systematize
• reinitiate
• put up
• relaunch
• reinstitute
• systemize
• refound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• close (down)
• shut (up)
• stop
• end
• finish
• abolish
• nullify
• terminate
• phase out
• annul
• halt
• annihilate
• wind up
• round (off or out)
• wrap up

4

as in to activate

to cause to function

trying to start the car on a frigid morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activate
• trigger
• spark
• drive
• move
• power
• generate
• set off
• run
• fuel
• ignite
• provoke
• turn on
• actuate
• push
• charge
• touch off
• launch
• crank (up)
• fire
• stimulate
• switch
• energize
• electrify
• release
• trip
• turn over
• accelerate
• reactivate
• kick over
• discharge
• kick-start
• instigate
• jump-start
• recharge
• quicken
• incite
• stir up
• excite
• arouse
• catalyze
• step up
• vitalize
• speed (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cut
• kill
• stop
• shut off
• cut out
• check
• turn off
• stick
• cut off
• halt
• brake
• arrest
• draw up
• deactivate
• slow
• suppress
• stall
• jam
• repress
• decelerate
• stunt

5

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

• jump
• leap
• cringe
• wince
• flinch
• startle
• bolt
• twitch
• jerk
• react
• bound
• respond
• spring
• shrink
• recoil
• spook
• jolt
• quail
• blench
• squinch

6

as in to protrude

to extend outward beyond a usual point

frightened horses with starting eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protrude
• poke
• stand out
• project
• jut
• bulge
• swell
• stick out
• bunch
• extend
• pout
• overhang
• balloon
• pouch
• billow
• lengthen
• pooch
• belly
• stretch
• dome
• expand
• beetle
• bag
• inflate
• dilate
• snowball
• distend
• elongate
• blow up
• mushroom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shrink
• contract
• compress
• condense
• constrict

start

2 of 4

noun

as in beginning

the point at which something begins

knew from the start of the game that he would win easily

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beginning
• commencement
• inception
• onset
• launch
• alpha
• outset
• dawn
• genesis
• baseline
• morning
• threshold
• birth
• kickoff
• infancy
• day one
• initiation
• get-go
• inauguration
• founding
• origination
• incipiency
• origin
• incipience
• nascence
• nascency
• spring
• first base
• opening
• arrival
• drawing board
• creation
• debut
• emergence
• well
• source
• ground zero
• institution
• germ
• cradle
• fountain
• dawning
• advent
• square one
• childhood
• root
• appearance
• seedbed
• youth
• fountainhead
• wellspring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• end
• close
• conclusion
• ending
• period
• stop
• finish
• completion
• closing
• termination
• closure
• cessation
• omega
• finale
• windup

starting

3 of 4

adjective

as in initial

Related Words

• beginning
• initial
• opening
• first
• earliest
• pioneer
• original
• inaugural
• foremost
• maiden
• primary
• leadoff
• headmost
• eminent
• premier
• superior

Dissimilar Words

• last
• final
• latter
• concluding
• latest
• following
• terminal
• ultimate
• succeeding
• lag
• closing
• terminating
• eventual
• ensuing
• consequent
• rearmost
• hindmost
• bottommost
• crowning
• decisive
• conclusive
• definitive

starting

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of start

1

as in jumping

to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)

I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jumping
• leaping
• cringing
• wincing
• startling
• bolting
• flinching
• twitching
• jerking
• reacting
• responding
• springing
• shrinking
• recoiling
• jolting
• bounding
• blenching
• spooking
• quailing
• squinching

2

as in establishing

to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of

started the impressionist movement in art

Synonyms & Similar Words

• establishing
• founding
• initiating
• launching
• introducing
• creating
• beginning
• pioneering
• instituting
• inaugurating
• planting
• constructing
• constituting
• originating
• organizing
• innovating
• developing
• producing
• setting up
• inventing
• devising
• manufacturing
• authoring
• expanding
• thinking (up)
• cooking (up)
• conceiving
• funding
• enlarging
• financing
• making up
• concocting
• subsidizing
• fathering
• arranging
• contriving
• fabricating
• endowing
• relaunching
• systematizing
• reinitiating
• reinstituting
• putting up
• refounding
• systemizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closing (down)
• shutting (up)
• ending
• finishing
• abolishing
• phasing out
• stopping
• terminating
• halting
• nullifying
• annihilating
• annulling
• winding up
• rounding (off or out)
• wrapping up

3

as in activating

to cause to function

trying to start the car on a frigid morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activating
• triggering
• sparking
• driving
• moving
• generating
• powering
• fueling
• running
• pushing
• setting off
• igniting
• turning on
• charging
• provoking
• touching off
• launching
• actuating
• firing
• cranking (up)
• switching
• releasing
• electrifying
• energizing
• turning over
• stimulating
• accelerating
• tripping
• discharging
• reactivating
• exciting
• kicking over
• recharging
• inciting
• kick-starting
• instigating
• stirring up
• jump-starting
• quickening
• arousing
• catalyzing
• stepping up
• vitalizing
• speeding (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cutting
• killing
• stopping
• checking
• sticking
• cutting out
• shutting off
• turning off
• halting
• arresting
• cutting off
• stalling
• braking
• drawing up
• slowing
• jamming
• deactivating
• suppressing
• repressing
• decelerating
• stunting

4

as in commencing

to come into existence

the fight started when one child tripped the other

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beginning
• commencing
• originating
• appearing
• arising
• being
• forming
• arriving
• emerging
• springing
• existing
• living
• breaking
• dawning
• continuing
• actualizing
• materializing
• setting in
• lasting
• engendering
• breathing
• surviving
• coming on
• subsisting
• persisting
• shaping (up)
• coalescing
• enduring
• cohering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• stopping
• ceasing
• finishing
• terminating
• concluding
• discontinuing
• halting
• quitting
• disappearing
• vanishing
• dying
• dissolving
• evaporating
• departing
• desisting
• expiring
• passing away
• perishing

5

as in protruding

to extend outward beyond a usual point

frightened horses with starting eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protruding
• poking
• projecting
• bulging
• standing out
• swelling
• jutting
• sticking out
• bunching
• extending
• pouting
• billowing
• ballooning
• overhanging
• bagging
• bellying
• pooching
• pouching
• stretching
• beetling
• expanding
• lengthening
• inflating
• snowballing
• mushrooming
• dilating
• distending
• doming
• elongating
• blowing up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contracting
• shrinking
• condensing
• compressing
• constricting

6

as in launching

to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

we'll be ready to start the concert in a moment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beginning
• commencing
• launching
• opening
• falling (to)
• creating
• entering (into or upon)
• initiating
• striking (into)
• embarking (on or upon)
• getting off
• organizing
• generating
• getting to
• originating
• establishing
• getting going
• leading off
• adopting
• setting about
• kicking off
• inventing
• inaugurating
• founding
• instituting
• spawning
• innovating
• pioneering
• embracing
• taking up
• taking on
• fathering
• setting up
• getting down (to)
• getting around (to)
• getting round (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• finishing
• stopping
• terminating
• concluding
• ceasing
• discontinuing
• completing
• halting
• closing
• leaving
• quitting
• laying off
• abandoning
• destroying
• desisting
• knocking off
• abolishing
• forsaking
• extinguishing
• exterminating
• demolishing
• phasing out

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

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

Recent Examples of start

Verb

Montgomery started the inning with a walk. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026

In those sleepy unstaffed stations, passengers routinely board and the train starts moving again before the conductor ever makes contact or scans their tickets. —CBS News, 1 May 2026

Noun

The Rockies, back home after an encouraging 4-2 road trip, were in control of the game early behind another strong start from veteran left-hander Jose Quintana and another big night from Mickey Moniak, who extended his hitting streak to 15 games. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 2 May 2026

Not only does Pavlovian enter with the most starts (10), its owner and trainer have twice won the Derby together. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 2 May 2026

Adjective

Leaning on fresh legs for inspiration, the Los Angeles Football Club made several changes to the starting lineup that fell flat on Sunday in a lopsided loss to San Jose. —Josh Gross, Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026

Parker has taken on a big role in draft preparations as the Cowboys hope to add two starting-quality talents to his defense on Thursday night, and potentially a third on Friday night. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026

Verb

Even worse, local governments are starting to follow suit, holding meetings and burying documents in secrecy when the truth is politically inconvenient. —Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026

Deep pockets aren’t enough to guarantee entry—access is by invitation only, limited to just 300 elite fans with premium tickets starting at $60,000 per person. —Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing start

• to start with