start
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to begin or set out, as on a journey or activity.
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to appear or come suddenly into action, life, view, etc.; rise or issue suddenly forth.
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to spring, move, or dart suddenly from a position or place.
The rabbit started from the bush.
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to be among the entrants in a race or the initial participants in a game or contest.
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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.
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to protrude.
eyes seeming to start from their sockets.
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to spring, slip, or work loose from place or fastenings, as timbers or other structural parts.
verb (used with object)
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to set moving, going, or acting; to set in operation.
to start an automobile; to start a fire.
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to establish or found.
to start a new business.
- Synonyms:
- institute
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to begin work on.
to start a book.
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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.
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to cause or choose to be an entrant in a game or contest.
He started his ace pitcher in the crucial game.
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to cause (an object) to work loose from place or fastenings.
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to rouse (game) from its lair or covert; flush.
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to draw or discharge (liquid or other contents) from a vessel or container; empty (a container).
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Archaic. to cause to twitch, jump, or flinch involuntarily; startle.
noun
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a beginning of an action, journey, etc.
- Synonyms:
- onset, commencement
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a signal to move, proceed, or begin, as on a course or in a race.
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a place or time from which something begins.
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the first part or beginning segment of anything.
The start of the book was good but the last half was dull.
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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.
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a sudden, springing movement from a position.
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a sudden, involuntary jerking movement of the body.
to awake with a start.
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a lead or advance of specified amount, as over competitors or pursuers.
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the position or advantage of one who starts first.
The youngest child should have the start over the rest.
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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.
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a spurt of activity.
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a starting of parts from their place or fastenings in a structure.
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the resulting break or opening.
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an outburst or sally, as of emotion, wit, or fancy.
noun
verb
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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
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to make or cause to make a beginning of (a process, series of actions, etc)
they started on the project
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(sometimes foll by up) to set or be set in motion
he started up the machine
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(intr) to make a sudden involuntary movement of one's body, from or as if from fright; jump
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(intr; sometimes foll by up, away, etc) to spring or jump suddenly from a position or place
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to establish or be established; set up
to start a business
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(tr) to support (someone) in the first part of a venture, career, etc
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to work or cause to work loose
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to enter or be entered in a race
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(intr) to flow violently from a source
wine started from a hole in the cask
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(tr) to rouse (game) from a hiding place, lair, etc
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(intr) (esp of eyes) to bulge; pop
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an archaic word for startle
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informal (intr) to commence quarrelling or causing a disturbance
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in the first place
noun
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the first or first part of a series of actions or operations, a journey, etc
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the place or time of starting, as of a race or performance
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a signal to proceed, as in a race
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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
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a slight involuntary movement of the body, as through fright, surprise, etc
she gave a start as I entered
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an opportunity to enter a career, undertake a project, etc
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informal a surprising incident
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a part that has come loose or been disengaged
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spasmodically; without concerted effort
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in the first place
acronym
Related Words
See begin.
Other Word Forms
- misstart verb
- nonstarting adjective
- restart verb
- unstarted adjective
- unstarting adjective
Etymology
Origin of start
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Nia Rhys Jones from Anglesey has worked in the tourism sector for more than 30 years and said Easter is an important period marking the official start of the holiday season.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
In 2024, Palantir — founded in part with CIA seed funding and built from the start around government intelligence work — stepped into the space Google vacated.
From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026
The International Transport Workers’ Federation, a labor union based in London that represents a million seafarers, has received about 1,000 inquiries since the start of the conflict from crew near the strait, asking for support.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
The top 17 North American points leaders will be eligible to start in the May 2 race at Churchill Downs.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
Just looking at the steam rising from it is enough to make me start sweating again.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
