Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

Medical

Scrabble^®

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Dictionary

¹start

verb \ˈstärt\

: to do the first part of something : to begin doing something

: to begin to work on, produce, or give attention to (something)

: to cause (something) to begin : to cause (something) to begin in a specified way

Full Definition of START

intransitive verb

a : to move suddenly and violently : spring <started angrily to his feet>

b : to react with a sudden brief involuntary movement <started when a shot rang out>

a : to issue with sudden force <blood starting from the wound>

b : to come into being, activity, or operation <when does the movie start> <the rain started up again>

: to protrude or seem to protrude <eyes starting from their sockets>

: to become loosened or forced out of place <one of the planks has started>

a : to begin a course or journey <started toward the door> <just starting out>

b : to range from a specified initial point <the rates start at $10>

: to begin an activity or undertaking; especially : to begin work

: to be a participant in a game or contest; especially : to be in the starting lineup

transitive verb

: to cause to leave a place of concealment : flush <start a rabbit>

archaic : startle, alarm

: to bring up for consideration or discussion

: to bring into being <start a rumor>

: to cause to become loosened or displaced

: to begin the use of <start a fresh loaf of bread>

a : to cause to move, act, or operate <start the motor>

b : to cause to enter a game or contest; especially : to put in the starting lineup

c : to care for or train during the early stages of growth and development <started plants> <a well-started coonhound>

: to do or experience the first stages or actions of <started studying music at the age of five>

— start something also start anything

: to make trouble <always trying to start something> <don't start anything>

— to start with

: at the beginning : initially

: in any event

See start defined for English-language learners

See start defined for kids

Origin of START

Middle English sterten; akin to Middle High German sterzen to stand up stiffly, move quickly

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to START

Synonyms: bolt, jump, startle

Antonyms: close (down), phase out, shut (up)

Synonym Discussion of START

begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. begin , start , and commence are often interchangeable. begin, opposed to end, is the most general <begin a trip> <began dancing>. start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages <the work started slowly>. commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start <commence firing> <commenced a conversation>. initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue <initiated diplomatic contacts>. inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance <the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine>. usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate <ushered in a period of economic decline>.

Rhymes with START

art, cart, chart, Chartres, dart, fart, hart, Harte, heart, kart, mart, part, smart, tart

²start

noun

: the time at which something begins

: the first part of an activity, development, event, etc.

: the first opportunity to begin a career

Full Definition of START

a : a sudden involuntary bodily movement or reaction <woke with a start>

b : a brief and sudden action or movement

c : a sudden capricious impulse or outburst

: a beginning of movement, activity, or development <a false start> <housing starts>

: head start

: a place of beginning

: the act or an instance of being a competitor in a race or a member of a starting lineup in a game <undefeated in six starts — Current Biography>

See start defined for English-language learners