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start
/stɑːrt/
begin or initiate something
She decided to start a new business.
She began a new business venture.
general
To begin or initiate an action or process
The meeting will start at 9 AM.
The meeting will begin at 9 AM.
He started learning Spanish last year.
He began learning Spanish last year.
Commonly used in everyday contexts to describe the beginning of an action or event.
general
To cause something to begin or function
She started the car engine.
She caused the car engine to begin running.
He started a fire in the fireplace.
He caused a fire to begin burning in the fireplace.
Often used with objects that can be activated or initiated.
general
To begin a new phase or stage in life or work
After graduation, she started her career in marketing.
After graduation, she began her career in marketing.
He started a family after getting married.
He began a family after getting married.
Used to describe significant life changes or new beginnings.
Collocations
start a businessbegin a business venturestart a projectbegin a projectstart a conversationbegin a conversationstart a trendinitiate a trendstart a relationshipbegin a relationship
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Collocations
'Start' is often followed by nouns like 'business', 'project', 'conversation', 'trend', or 'relationship'. For example, 'start a business' or 'start a conversation'.
Transitive and Intransitive Use
'Start' can be used both transitively (to cause something to begin) and intransitively (to begin an action). For example, 'She started the car' (transitive) and 'The meeting will start at 9 AM' (intransitive).
Formal and Informal Contexts
While 'start' is generally informal, it can be used in formal contexts as well. Synonyms like 'commence' or 'initiate' might be preferred in very formal writing.
Gold Rule
Avoid Redundancy
Do not use 'start' with words that already imply a beginning, such as 'begin' or 'commence'. For example, avoid saying 'start to begin'.
Consistency in Tense
Ensure consistency in tense when using 'start'. For example, 'She started her journey' (past tense) and 'She will start her journey' (future tense).
Word Origin
From Middle English 'starten', meaning to spring or leap suddenly, from Old English 'steortian' (to move suddenly). The modern sense of 'to begin' emerged in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
The word 'start' is commonly used in both transitive and intransitive contexts. It can describe the beginning of an action (intransitive) or the act of causing something to begin (transitive).
Word Breakdown
start
to begin or initiate
rootEnglish Dictionary