Start Definition & Meaning
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"
- 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"
- a sudden involuntary movement; "he awoke with a start"
- the act of starting something; "he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations"
- a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game
- a signal to begin (as in a race); "the starting signal was a green light"; "the runners awaited the start"
- the advantage gained by beginning early (as in a race); "with an hour's start he will be hard to catch"
- verb
- 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"
- 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"
- leave; "The family took off for Florida"
- 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"
- bring into being; "He initiated a new program"; "Start a foundation"
- 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"
- move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm; "She startled when I walked into the room"
- get going or set in motion; "We simply could not start the engine"; "start up the computer"
- begin or set in motion; "I start at eight in the morning"; "Ready, set, go!"
- begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job; "Take up a position"; "start a new job"
- 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"; "Her day begins with a workout"; "The semester begins with a convocation ceremony"
- 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"
- bulge outward; "His eyes popped"
"Start" in song lyrics
See how start is used in real songs:
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"She done what I asked right from the start"
2 Live Crew — My Seven Bizzos -
"For fame and fortune or to get a head start"
2 Live Crew — Revelation -
"Kinda knew our relationship was doomed from the start"
3 Melancholy Gypsies — And If
Words that rhyme with start
Usage tips for "start"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "start" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for start to find words that pair well.