start

noun

UK /stɑː(r)t/

Word Forms

singular	start
plural	starts

1
singular the beginning of a period of time
start of:
At the start of the final year, students do work experience.
The revolutions of 1848 marked the start of a fascinating period in world history.
This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.
from start to finish:
The operation takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.
Synonyms and related words
Beginnings, starts and early stages
beginning
start
introduction
1. 1a
  singular the beginning of a film, story, show etc
  Let’s look at the start of the story in more detail.
  Hurry up or we’ll miss the start.
  Synonyms and related words
  Beginnings, starts and early stages
  beginning
  start
  introduction
2
singular the way that someone begins a period of time or activity
start to:
There’s no better start to the day than a healthy breakfast.
have/make a great/fine/excellent etc start:
Hakkinen had a great start and was in second place by the first corner.
Waddle has made an excellent start to his new career.
Synonyms and related words
Beginnings, starts and early stages
beginning
start
introduction
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with start
▪ bad, disastrous, good, inauspicious, promising, rocky, shaky, slow
3
singular the beginning of a journey
After an early start, we were soon out of the city.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of a journey
change
departure
the home straight
4
singular the moment when a race begins
The start has been brought forward by 30 minutes.
Synonyms and related words
Races and racing
ahead
a poor second
baton
1. 4a
  singular the place where a race begins
  The runners were all gathered at the start.
  Synonyms and related words
  Race tracks and parts of race tracks
  circuit
  course
  inside lane
2. 4b
  countable mainly journalisman occasion when a sports player takes part in a game at the beginning
  Liverpool gave Jamie Redknapp his first start of the season against Fulham.
  Synonyms and related words
  Actions in playing games or sports
  backhand
  backhander
  ball
3. 4c
  singular an advantage that you have in a race or competition, by beginning it in a better position than the other people
  The women runners are given a 50-metre start.
  Synonyms and related words
  Races and racing
  ahead
  a poor second
  baton
5
singular a big change, or a new opportunity in your life
a new/fresh start:
She travelled to Hong Kong, hoping for a new start.
give someone a start:
The money she lent him would give him a fresh start.
Synonyms and related words
Opportunities
opportunity
chance
choice
6
singular a sudden movement that you make because you are surprised or afraid
give a start:
She gave a nervous start as the door suddenly opened.
give someone a start:
A noise in the road gave us all a start.
wake/sit up with a start:
She woke with a start from her dream.
Synonyms and related words
Sudden and quick movements
dart
start
rush

phrases

be/get off to a good/bad/slow etc start

for a start

make a start

(right) from the start

start in life

start

noun

US /stɑrt/

Word Forms

singular	start
plural	starts

1
singular the beginning of a period of time
start of:
At the start of the final year, students begin to think about going to a university.
The revolutions of 1848 marked the start of a fascinating period in world history.
This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.
from start to finish:
The operation takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.
Synonyms and related words
Beginnings, starts and early stages
beginning
start
introduction
1. 1a
  singular the beginning of a movie, story, show, etc.
  Let’s look at the start of the story in more detail.
  Hurry up or we’ll miss the start.
  Synonyms and related words
  Beginnings, starts and early stages
  beginning
  start
  introduction
2
singular the way that someone begins a period of time or activity
start to:
There’s no better start to the day than a healthy breakfast.
have/make a great/fine/excellent etc. start:
Hakkinen had a great start and was in second place by the first corner.
Jordan has made an excellent start to his new career.
Synonyms and related words
Beginnings, starts and early stages
beginning
start
introduction
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with start
▪ bad, disastrous, good, inauspicious, promising, rocky, shaky, slow
3
singular the beginning of a trip
After an early start, we were soon out of the city.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of a journey
change
departure
drop-off
4
singular the moment when a race begins
The start has been delayed by 30 minutes.
Synonyms and related words
Races and racing
ahead
a poor second
baton
1. 4a
  singular the place where a race begins
  The runners were all gathered at the start.
  Synonyms and related words
  Race tracks and parts of race tracks
  circuit
  course
  the home stretch
2. 4b
  countable mainly journalisman occasion when a sports player takes part in a game at the beginning
  Synonyms and related words
  Actions in playing games or sports
  backhand
  backhander
  ball
3. 4c
  singular an advantage that you have in a race or competition, by beginning it in a better position than the other people
  The women runners are given a 50-meter start.
  Synonyms and related words
  Races and racing
  ahead
  a poor second
  baton
5
singular a big change, or a new opportunity in your life
a new/fresh start:
She traveled to Hong Kong, hoping for a new start.
give someone a start:
The money she provided for him would give him a fresh start.
Synonyms and related words
Opportunities
opportunity
chance
choice
6
singular a sudden movement that you make because you are surprised or afraid
give someone a start:
A noise in the road gave us all a start.
wake/sit up with a start:
She woke with a start from her dream.
Synonyms and related words
Sudden and quick movements
dart
start
rush

phrases

be/get off to a good/bad/slow etc. start

for a start

make a start

(right) from the start

start in life

start

verb

UK /stɑː(r)t/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	start
he/she/it	starts
present participle	starting
past tense	started
past participle	started

1
intransitive to begin to happen or take place
Work has started on a new terminal at Heathrow Airport.
The World Championships start in two weeks’ time.
The show has just started.
What time does school start in the morning?
start as:
The riot started as a dispute between neighbours.
Synonyms and related words
To start to exist or happen
start
begin
arise
1. 1a
  used about a change, movement, process etc
  Cellular decay starts at the moment of death.
  start doing/to do something:
  The leaves have started falling off the trees.
  The traffic had started to move more freely now.
  His confidence is starting to crumble.
  It’s starting to rain.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start to exist or happen
  start
  begin
  arise
2
intransitive/transitive used for saying that someone begins to do something
Please start when you are ready.
Have you started the washing-up yet?
start by:
Let’s start by defining our terms.
start with:
The class starts with some gentle stretching exercises.
start doing something:
Everyone in the class started laughing.
start to do something:
I started to unpack my suitcase.
Synonyms and related words
To start doing something
start on
begin
set about
1. 2a
  intransitive/transitive to begin a new job, career, or period of education
  When do they want you to start?
  Things were very different when I started in politics.
  I started as an office boy and worked my way to the top.
  start work:
  I start work on Monday.
  start school/college:
  Children start school at age five.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start a career or new job, or to move to a new position
  join
  arrive
  enter
2. 2b
  transitive to begin a period of time in a particular way
  start the day/week/year etc:
  I usually start the day with a cup of coffee.
  New York started the new century with a massive fireworks display.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start doing something
  start on
  begin
  set about
3. 2c
  intransitive/transitive to be involved in something at the beginning
  Of the 36 horses that started the race, only four finished.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start doing something
  start on
  begin
  set about
3
intransitive/transitive to begin a journey
We started early enough but got caught in the London traffic.
It was time to start the long walk back home.
Synonyms and related words
To start a journey
depart
embark on
hit the road
1. 3a
  intransitive to move in a particular direction
  The footsteps came again, and then started up the stairs.
  start for:
  Guy started for the door.
  Synonyms and related words
  To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction
  head
  go
  progress
4
intransitive used for talking about the nearest end or edge of something
The new houses start immediately beyond the bridge.
Synonyms and related words
To start to exist or happen
start
begin
arise
1. 4a
  used for talking about the lowest price or number
  start from/at:
  Prices for cushion covers start from £18.
  The house numbers start at 20.
  Synonyms and related words
  Price behaviour
  bounce
  come down
  cool off
5
transitive to cause something, or to be the first person to do something
Have you any idea who might have started the fire?
The police insist that they didn’t start the confrontation.
Who wants to start the discussion?
‘Don’t talk to me like that!’ ‘You started it!’
Synonyms and related words
To make something start to exist or happen
bring about
trigger
form
1. 5a
  to cause someone to do something
  start someone doing something:
  What she said started me thinking.
  Synonyms and related words
  To encourage someone to do or to not do something
  encourage
  persuade
  convince
2. 5b
  to bring a business, organization, or project into existence
  He decided to quit his job and start his own business.
  Synonyms and related words
  Starting up in business
  bootstrap
  go into
  set up
6
transitive to switch on a machine or engine, especially a motor vehicle
Scott started the engine and drove off.
Synonyms and related words
To make a machine or piece of equipment work
activate
actuate
coax
1. 6a
  intransitive to begin to work
  No matter how many times he tried, the car wouldn’t start.
  Synonyms and related words
  To work, or to start working (of a piece of machinery)
  operate
  come on
  function
7
intransitive informalto begin to complain or be angry about something
It only takes the slightest thing to make her start.
Don’t start!
Synonyms and related words
To complain
complain
mutter
lodge
8
intransitive to move suddenly because you are afraid or surprised by something
The noise made him start.
Synonyms and related words
To express or react to fear
shout
cry out
tremble
Synonyms and related words
To be shocked or surprised
be taken aback
marvel
start

phrases

back where you started

get started

get someone started

to start with

phrasal verbs

start back

start in

start off

start on

start out

start over

start up

start

verb

US /stɑrt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	start
he/she/it	starts
present participle	starting
past tense	started
past participle	started

1
intransitive to begin to happen or take place
The World Championships start in two weeks.
The show has just started.
What time does school start in the morning?
start as:
The riot started as a dispute between neighbors.
Synonyms and related words
To start to exist or happen
start
begin
arise
1. 1a
  used about a change, movement, process, etc.
  Cellular decay starts at the moment of death.
  start doing/to do something:
  The leaves have started falling off the trees.
  The traffic had started to move more freely now.
  His confidence is starting to crumble.
  It’s starting to rain.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start to exist or happen
  start
  begin
  arise
2
intransitive/transitive used for saying that someone begins to do something
Please start when you are ready.
start by:
Let’s start by defining our terms.
start with:
The class starts with some gentle stretching exercises.
Have you started the laundry yet?
start doing something:
Everyone in the class started laughing.
start to do something:
I started to unpack my suitcase.
Synonyms and related words
To start doing something
begin
start on
set about
1. 2a
  intransitive/transitive to begin a new job, career, or period of education
  When do they want you to start?
  Things were very different when I started in politics.
  I started as an office boy and worked my way to the top.
  start work:
  I start work on Monday.
  start school/college:
  Children start school at age five.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start a career or new job, or to move to a new position
  join
  arrive
  enter
2. 2b
  transitive to begin a period of time in a particular way
  start the day/week/year etc.:
  I usually start the day with a cup of coffee.
  New York started the new century with a massive fireworks display.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start doing something
  begin
  start on
  set about
3. 2c
  intransitive/transitive to be involved in something at the beginning
  Of the 36 horses that started the race, only four finished.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start doing something
  begin
  start on
  set about
3
intransitive/transitive to begin a trip
We started early enough but got caught in traffic.
It was time to start the long walk back home.
Synonyms and related words
To start a journey
depart
embark on
hit the road
1. 3a
  intransitive to move in a particular direction
  The footsteps came again, and then started up the stairs.
  start for:
  Guy started for the door.
  Synonyms and related words
  To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction
  head
  go
  progress
4
intransitive used for talking about the nearest end or edge of something
The new houses start immediately beyond the bridge.
Synonyms and related words
To start to exist or happen
start
begin
arise
1. 4a
  used for talking about the lowest price or number
  start from/at:
  Prices for cushion covers start from $30.
  The house numbers start at 20.
  Synonyms and related words
  Price behavior
  bounce
  come down
  cool off
5
transitive to cause something, or to be the first person to do something
Have you any idea who might have started the fire?
The police insist that they didn’t start the confrontation.
Who wants to start the discussion?
“Don’t talk to me like that!” “You started it!”
Synonyms and related words
To make something start to exist or happen
bring about
start off
create
1. 5a
  to cause someone to do something
  start someone doing something:
  What she said started me thinking.
  Synonyms and related words
  To encourage someone to do or to not do something
  encourage
  persuade
  convince
2. 5b
  to bring a business, organization, or project into existence
  He decided to quit his job and start his own business.
  Synonyms and related words
  Starting up in business
  bootstrap
  go into
  set up
6
transitive to switch on a machine or engine, especially a motor vehicle
Scott started the engine and drove off.
Synonyms and related words
To make a machine or piece of equipment work
activate
actuate
coax
1. 6a
  intransitive to be switched on and begin to work
  The car won’t start.
  Synonyms and related words
  To work, or to start working (of a piece of machinery)
  operate
  come on
  function
7
intransitive informalto begin to complain or be angry about something
It only takes the slightest thing to make her start.
Don’t start!
Synonyms and related words
To complain
complain
mutter
lodge
8
intransitive to move suddenly because you are afraid or surprised by something
The noise made him start.
Synonyms and related words
To express or react to fear
shout
cry out
tremble
Synonyms and related words
To be shocked or surprised
be taken aback
marvel
start

phrases

back where you started

get started

get someone started

to start with

phrasal verbs

start back

start in

start off

start on

start out

start over

start up

start ​‌‌‌

start ​‌‌‌

start ​‌‌‌

start ​‌‌‌

start

start

start

start