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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

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

Examples 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
After three days at sea, the group of about 70 migrants was transferred to smaller boats whose engines started to fail. Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024 Outfitters like River Ventures and Crystal River Watersports offer 3-hour swim with manatee tours starting at just $65. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
Noun
Emerging in recent years as the leader in the field, Netflix got the biz off to a good start with a second edition of its festival, Netflix Is a Joke, which expanded its scope as 600-plus artists hit Los Angeles over the course of 12 days, with more than 360,000 tickets sold. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024 Since that modest start, Rise has raised more than $11 million to make a difference in the lives of five million women and girls in more than 70 countries. Next Avenue, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for start 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Verb
  • Whitening toothpaste won't make your teeth instantly jump several shades brighter than an in-office treatment might.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 27 Dec. 2024
  • On Saturday, a 48-year-old woman died after trying to jump overboard from a Princess Cruises ship en route back to Florida after traveling around the Caribbean.
    Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • For now, the most urgent task is for the United States to establish a position of strength vis-à-vis Russia, which will ultimately force Moscow to compromise and also send a clear message to China, Iran, and North Korea.
    Alina Polyakova, Foreign Affairs, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Following his death, his family established the Tim Bergling Foundation, which works with mental health and suicide prevention organizations.
    Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • To activate it, mix the crystals with water in the palm of your hand until the mixture becomes a paste, then massage the treatment into the scalp.
    Jenny Berg, Allure, 31 Dec. 2024
  • On Earth, Truth discovered a Forerunner construction located in Kenya that generated a portal to the Ark installation, a giant installation located outside the galaxy that could activate all of the Halo rings at once.
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • From then on, Chavez Sr. also began raping the girl at least once a week for the next four years, Inabnett testified.
    Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Daniels began earning trust from Kingsbury in rookie mini-camp.
    Ben Standig, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • In 1970, Smithson traveled to the Great Salt Lake’s Rozel Point peninsula, northwest of Salt Lake City, and arranged 6,000 tons of local black basalt rock into a 1,500-foot-long, protruding line, which reaches into the lake and curls counterclockwise into a spiral.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024
  • The attack was foiled when a Secret Service agent spotted a firearm protruding from the bushes.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Johnson scored Trump’s endorsement days ahead of the new Congress commencing on Friday and a key vote to rename him speaker of the House with a razor-thin majority.
    Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Jan. 2025
  • The celebration couldn’t officially commence until quarterback Sam Darnold finished up a postgame interview with Fox analyst Tom Brady on the television broadcast.
    Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • One editor discovered that the tapioca really should be dissolved with boiling water at the beginning of the process.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 19 Dec. 2024
  • At the beginning of the year, it was announced that the Spaniard would leave Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season, making way for Lewis Hamilton to team up with Charles Leclerc in 2025.
    Yara Elshebiny, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Instead, many recalls are initiated due to the potential risk of contamination in the food product.
    Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 30 Dec. 2024
  • Oasis, which does not publicly declare its assets under management, has initiated high-profile change campaigns at several Japanese firms over the past year.
    George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 28 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near start

Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.

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