start
start
Pronunciation
/stɑːrt/ (one syllable)
/s/: voiceless alveolar fricative
/t/: voiceless alveolar stop
/ɑː/: open back unrounded vowel (long 'a' sound, as in "car")
/r/: alveolar approximant
/t/: voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Base form/Infinitive: start
Third-person singular present: starts
Past tense: started
Past participle: started
Present participle/Gerund: starting
Noun (singular): start
Noun (plural): starts
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To begin an action, process, or journey; to set something in motion.
Synonyms: commence, initiate, originate, launch, begin
Antonyms: finish, conclude, end, stop, cease
Example: She will start her new job next Monday.
Definition 2: To make a sudden, involuntary movement or jump, often due to surprise, fear, or a sudden noise.
Synonyms: flinch, jump, recoil, twitch, wince
Antonyms: remain still, relax, settle
Example: The loud thunder made the dog start.
Definition 3: To activate or set in operation (a machine, engine, etc.).
Synonyms: activate, power up, ignite, crank, fire up
Antonyms: stop, shut down, deactivate, turn off
Example: He tried to start the car, but the battery was dead.
Noun
Definition 1: The beginning or initial point of something, such as an event, race, or period of time.
Synonyms: beginning, commencement, outset, inception, origin
Antonyms: end, finish, conclusion, culmination, cessation
Example: The start of the marathon was at 7 AM.
Definition 2: A sudden, brief, involuntary movement of the body, often caused by surprise or fright.
Synonyms: jump, twitch, jerk, flinch, spasm
Antonyms: stillness, calmness, steadiness
Example: He gave a slight start when he heard the unexpected noise.
Definition 3: An advantage or head start given to a competitor in a race or contest.
Synonyms: head start, advantage, lead, edge, jump
Antonyms: handicap, disadvantage, deficit, lag
Example: The smaller team was given a 10-minute start.
Examples of Use
Books:
"All of these things, he realized, were part of a new start for him, a chance to rebuild." (From The Midnight Library by Matt Haig)
"Every story has a start, but not all stories have a clear end." (From Circe by Madeline Miller)
Newspapers:
"Construction on the new downtown arena is expected to start in the spring, bringing hundreds of jobs to the region." (The Daily Chronicle)
"The local government announced a new initiative to help small businesses get a better start in the competitive market." (Business Today)
Online Publications:
"The tech giant announced it would start a new research division focused on artificial intelligence." (The Verge)
"Getting a healthy start to your day can significantly impact your productivity." (Healthline.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Ready? Set? Start!" (Common line heard in sports movies or action sequences, e.g., Cars (2006)
Television Series: "This is where our journey truly begins, a new start for all of us." (From a dramatic monologue in a fictional series, The Chronicles of Eldoria, Season 3, Episode 1)
Music: "I just need a place to start, and I can build from there." (Lyric from the song "Starting Over" by Chris Stapleton)
Video Games: "Press 'X' to start." (Common prompt on video game title screens, e.g., The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Podcasts: "Today, we start a deep dive into the history of ancient civilizations." (From the podcast "History Unwrapped," Episode 120)
General Public Discourse:
"Let's start with the agenda for today's meeting." (Heard in a business meeting)
"I need to start saving money if I want to buy that new car." (Casual conversation between friends)
"The kids are so excited for school to start again." (Parent talking about the upcoming school year)
"You've given me a great start on this project, thanks!" (Colleague thanking another)
10 Quotes Using Start
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." (Mark Twain)
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." (Lao Tzu)
"Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect." (Alan Cohen)
"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." (Zig Ziglar)
"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try." (John F. Kennedy)
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." (Saint Francis of Assisi)
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." (Walt Disney)
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." (Seneca)
"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from." (T.S. Eliot)
"Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go. They merely determine where you start." (Nido Qubein)
Etymology
The word "start" has a fascinating journey through language!
It comes from an Old English word, "steart," which meant to "leap, spring, or jump." Imagine something suddenly darting off – that was the original feeling of "steart."
The first known use of "steart" in this sense of "to move suddenly or violently" dates back to before the 12th century. Over time, this idea of a sudden movement evolved. Think of a horse "starting" at a sudden noise, or a runner "starting" from the blocks at the beginning of a race.
By the 13th century, it began to take on the meaning we most commonly use today: to "begin" or "commence" an action or journey. This likely grew out of the idea of a sudden movement that initiates something. So, from a simple jump, it blossomed into the broad meaning of setting something in motion, whether it's a car, a project, or a new phase of life.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Start
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "start":
To start from scratch: To begin something completely anew, without any prior preparation or existing components.
To start fresh: To begin again, often after a failure or setback, with a renewed outlook.
To get off to a good/bad start: To begin a process or event either successfully or unsuccessfully.
To start over: To begin again from the beginning.
For a start: Used to introduce the first point or a primary reason, often implying there are more.
To start a family: To have one's first child or begin the process of having children.
To start something (with someone): To initiate an argument, conflict, or trouble with someone.
To start from the ground up: To build or develop something from its very foundations or beginning.
To give someone a head start: To give someone an advantage by allowing them to begin before others.
A false start: A beginning that is prematurely or improperly made, often requiring a re-start.
To start the ball rolling: To begin an activity or process.
To start with a clean slate: To begin again without any previous mistakes or bad records to consider.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of start from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
