Start meaning

What does “start” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“start” is a noun and verb with 22 meanings. Its most common meaning is: the beginning of anything.

start

noun

the beginning of anything
“it was off to a good start”
the time at which something is supposed to begin
“they got an early start”
“she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her”
Synonymsbeginning commencement first outset get-go kickoff starting time showtime
a turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning)
“he got his start because one of the regular pitchers was in the hospital”
“his starting meant that the coach thought he was one of their best linemen”
Synonymsstarting
a sudden involuntary movement
“he awoke with a start”
Synonymsstartle jump
the act of starting something
“he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations”
Synonymsbeginning commencement
Oppositesfinish
a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game
Synonymsstarting line scratch scratch line
a signal to begin (as in a race)
“the starting signal was a green light”
“the runners awaited the start”
Synonymsstarting signal
the advantage gained by beginning early (as in a race)
“with an hour's start he will be hard to catch”
Synonymshead start

verb

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
“We began working at dawn”
“Who will start?”
Synonymsget down begin get start out set about set out commence
set in motion, cause to start
“The U.S. started a war in the Middle East”
“The Iraqis began hostilities”
Synonymsbegin lead off commence
leave
“The family took off for Florida”
Synonymsdepart part start out set forth set off set out take off
have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense
“The DMZ begins right over the hill”
“The second movement begins after the Allegro”
Synonymsbegin
bring into being
“He initiated a new program”
“Start a foundation”
Synonymsoriginate initiate
get off the ground
“Who started this company?”
“We embarked on an exciting enterprise”
Synonymsstart up embark on commence
move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm
“She startled when I walked into the room”
Synonymsstartle jump
get going or set in motion
“We simply could not start the engine”
“start up the computer”
Synonymsstart up
Oppositesstop
begin or set in motion
“I start at eight in the morning”
“Ready, set, go!”
Synonymsgo get going
Oppositesstop
begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job
“Take up a position”
“start a new job”
Synonymstake up
play in the starting lineup
have a beginning characterized in some specified way
“The novel begins with a murder”
“My property begins with the three maple trees”
Synonymsbegin
begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object
“begin a cigar”
“She started the soup while it was still hot”
Synonymsbegin
bulge outward
“His eyes popped”
Synonymsprotrude pop pop out bulge bulge out bug out come out

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University

More about “start”

✦Synonyms for start✦Words that rhyme with start✦Unscramble START