verb

start

to start, to begin, to commence

Let's start the meeting.

Let's start the meeting.

He started the car.

He started the car.

She started a new company.

She started a new company.

It started to rain.

It started to rain.

((sth.)) to begin (sth.) Let's start the meeting.

((-ing)) to begin doing (sth.) He started working at 9 AM.

((to-inf)) to begin to do (sth.) It started to rain.

Synonyms: begin, commence, launch; Antonyms: finish, end, stop

From Middle English 'sterten', meaning 'to leap, move suddenly'. The sense of 'begin' developed from this idea.

Think of the starting line of a race. 'Ready, set, START!' helps remember the meaning 'to begin'.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.