verb

start

staht

verb

To begin doing something or set something in motion.

"She started the meeting five minutes late."

"He started learning guitar last summer."

To get an engine or machine running.

"The car wouldn't start in the cold weather."

To jerk or flinch suddenly from surprise or fear.

"She started at the sudden knock on the door."

noun

The beginning point of something, such as an activity, race, or period of time.

"We arrived at the start of the race just in time."

"It was a rocky start to the project, but things improved quickly."

How to Use Start

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo begin something, get a machine going, or suddenly flinch in surprise.

Common mistake

When it means "flinch from surprise," start is closely related to startle — "he started" and "he was startled" describe the same reaction.

Common pairings

start a business start over jump-start from start to finish

more start comparative, started past tense, starts plural, starts plural, Starts plural, Starts plural, starts singular, most start superlative

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She _____ the meeting five minutes late.

From Old English styrtan, "to leap up suddenly," which is also behind the related word startle.

begin

stop end cease finish conclude complete

abandon quarter accomplish achieve close kill finish complete

art dart hart wart cart mart part tart Bart heart apart quart

begin stop end cease finish conclude complete abandon quarter accomplish achieve close