start

[ stahrt ]
See synonyms for start on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
  1. to begin or set out, as on a journey or activity.

  2. to appear or come suddenly into action, life, view, etc.; rise or issue suddenly forth.

  1. to spring, move, or dart suddenly from a position or place: The rabbit started from the bush.

  2. to be among the entrants in a race or the initial participants in a game or contest.

  3. to give a sudden, involuntary jerk, jump, or twitch, as from a shock of surprise, alarm, or pain: The sudden clap of thunder caused everyone to start.

  4. to protrude: eyes seeming to start from their sockets.

  5. to spring, slip, or work loose from place or fastenings, as timbers or other structural parts.

verb (used with object)
  1. to set moving, going, or acting; to set in operation: to start an automobile; to start a fire.

  2. to establish or found: to start a new business.

  1. to begin work on: to start a book.

  2. to enable or help (someone) set out on a journey, a career, or the like: The record started the young singer on the road to stardom.

  3. to cause or choose to be an entrant in a game or contest: He started his ace pitcher in the crucial game.

  4. to cause (an object) to work loose from place or fastenings.

  5. to rouse (game) from its lair or covert; flush.

  6. to draw or discharge (liquid or other contents) from a vessel or container; empty (a container).

  7. Archaic. to cause to twitch, jump, or flinch involuntarily; startle.

noun
  1. a beginning of an action, journey, etc.

  2. a signal to move, proceed, or begin, as on a course or in a race.

  1. a place or time from which something begins.

  2. the first part or beginning segment of anything: The start of the book was good but the last half was dull.

  3. an instance of being a participant in a race or an initial participant in a game or contest: The horse won his first two starts.

  4. a sudden, springing movement from a position.

  5. a sudden, involuntary jerking movement of the body: to awake with a start.

  6. a lead or advance of specified amount, as over competitors or pursuers.

  7. the position or advantage of one who starts first: The youngest child should have the start over the rest.

  8. a chance, opportunity, aid, or encouragement given to one starting on a course or career: The bride's parents gave the couple a start by buying them a house.

  9. a spurt of activity.

  10. a starting of parts from their place or fastenings in a structure.

  11. the resulting break or opening.

  12. an outburst or sally, as of emotion, wit, or fancy.

Origin of start

1
First recorded before 1150; Middle English verb sterte(n), stirte(n), “to rush out, leap” (cognate with Middle High German sterzen ); replacing Old English styrtan (attested once), cognate with German stürzen; noun derivative of the verb

synonym study For start

10. See begin.

Other words for start

Opposites for start

Other words from start

  • mis·start, verb
  • non·start·ing, adjective
  • re·start, verb, noun
  • un·start·ed, adjective
  • un·start·ing, adjective

Other definitions for START (2 of 2)

START
[ stahrt ]

noun
  1. Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use start in a sentence

  • But Polavieja started his campaign with the immense advantage of having the whole of the dry season before him.

    The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
  • When these last words of his were interpreted to her, she started, made as if she would run after him, but checked herself.

    Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson
  • I started for it once, but never even reached the western boundaries of New York.

    Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
  • The Comet started on her first trip up the Arkansas, being the first steam boat that ascended that river.

  • In fact, his appearance was so formidable that Davy did not pause for a second look, but started off at the top of his speed.

    Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. Carryl

British Dictionary definitions for start (1 of 2)

start

/ (stɑːt) /


verb
  1. to begin or cause to begin (something or to do something); come or cause to come into being, operation, etc: he started a quarrel; they started to work

  2. (when intr , sometimes foll by on) to make or cause to make a beginning of (a process, series of actions, etc): they started on the project

  1. (sometimes foll by up) to set or be set in motion: he started up the machine

  2. (intr) to make a sudden involuntary movement of one's body, from or as if from fright; jump

  3. (intr; sometimes foll by up, away, etc) to spring or jump suddenly from a position or place

  4. to establish or be established; set up: to start a business

  5. (tr) to support (someone) in the first part of a venture, career, etc

  6. to work or cause to work loose

  7. to enter or be entered in a race

  8. (intr) to flow violently from a source: wine started from a hole in the cask

  9. (tr) to rouse (game) from a hiding place, lair, etc

  10. (intr) (esp of eyes) to bulge; pop

  11. an archaic word for startle

  12. (intr) British informal to commence quarrelling or causing a disturbance

  13. to start with in the first place

noun
  1. the first or first part of a series of actions or operations, a journey, etc

  2. the place or time of starting, as of a race or performance

  1. a signal to proceed, as in a race

  2. a lead or advantage, either in time or distance and usually of specified extent, in a competitive activity: he had an hour's start on me

  3. a slight involuntary movement of the body, as through fright, surprise, etc: she gave a start as I entered

  4. an opportunity to enter a career, undertake a project, etc

  5. informal a surprising incident

  6. a part that has come loose or been disengaged

  7. by fits and starts spasmodically; without concerted effort

  8. for a start in the first place

Origin of start

1
Old English styrtan; related to Old Norse sterta to crease, Old High German sturzen to rush

British Dictionary definitions for START (2 of 2)

START

/ (stɑːt) /


n acronym for
  1. Strategic Arms Reduction Talks

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with start

start

In addition to the idioms beginning with start

  • start from scratch
  • start in
  • start in on
  • start off
  • start out
  • start over
  • start something
  • start up

also see:

  • false start
  • fits and starts
  • for openers (starters)
  • (start) from scratch
  • from soup to nuts (start to finish)
  • get off the ground (to a flying start)
  • head start
  • running start
  • to start with

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.