start meaning and definition

START noun

Definition of start (noun)

1. the beginning of anything
   • "it was off to a good start"
2. 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"
   • synonyms: beginning, commencement, first, get-go, kickoff, offset, outset, showtime, starting time
   • antonym: middle
3. 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"
   • synonyms: starting
4. a sudden involuntary movement
   • "he awoke with a start"
   • synonyms: jump, startle
5. the act of starting something
   • "he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations"
   • synonyms: beginning, commencement
   • antonym: finish
6. a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game
   • synonyms: scratch, scratch line, starting line
7. a signal to begin (as in a race)
   • "the starting signal was a green light"; "the runners awaited the start"
   • synonyms: starting signal
8. the advantage gained by beginning early (as in a race)
   • "with an hour's start he will be hard to catch"
   • synonyms: head start

START verb

Definition of start (verb)

1. take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
   • "We began working at dawn"; "Who will start?"; "Get working as soon as the sun rises!"; "The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia"; "He began early in the day"; "Let's get down to work now"
   • synonyms: begin, commence, get, get down, set about, set out, start out
   • antonym: end
2. set in motion, cause to start
   • "The U.S. started a war in the Middle East"; "The Iraqis began hostilities"; "begin a new chapter in your life"
   • synonyms: begin, commence, lead off
   • antonym: end
3. leave
   • "The family took off for Florida"
   • synonyms: depart, part, set forth, set off, set out, start out, take off
4. have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense
   • "The DMZ begins right over the hill"; "The second movement begins after the Allegro"; "Prices for these homes start at $250,000"
   • synonyms: begin
   • antonym: cease
5. bring into being
   • "He initiated a new program"; "Start a foundation"
   • synonyms: initiate, originate
6. get off the ground
   • "Who started this company?"; "We embarked on an exciting enterprise"; "I start my day with a good breakfast"; "We began the new semester"; "The afternoon session begins at 4 PM"; "The blood shed started when the partisans launched a surprise attack"
   • synonyms: commence, embark on, start up
7. move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm
   • "She startled when I walked into the room"
   • synonyms: jump, startle
8. get going or set in motion
   • "We simply could not start the engine"; "start up the computer"
   • synonyms: start up
   • antonym: stop
9. begin or set in motion
   • "I start at eight in the morning"; "Ready, set, go!"
   • synonyms: get going, go
   • antonym: halt
10. begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job
    • "Take up a position"; "start a new job"
    • synonyms: take up
11. play in the starting lineup
12. have a beginning characterized in some specified way
    • "The novel begins with a murder"; "My property begins with the three maple trees"; "Her day begins with a workout"; "The semester begins with a convocation ceremony"
    • synonyms: begin
13. 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"; "We started physics in 10th grade"
    • synonyms: begin
14. bulge outward
    • "His eyes popped"
    • synonyms: bug out, bulge, bulge out, come out, pop, pop out, protrude