START | Meaning, Definition In Cambridge English Dictionary

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Meaning of start in English startverb uk /stɑːt/ us /stɑːrt/

start verb (BEGIN)

Add to word list Add to word list A1 [ I or T ] to begin doing something: When do you start your course/your new job? We'll be starting (the session) at six o'clock. Can you start (= begin a new job) on Monday? [ + -ing verb ] They started building the house in January. [ + to infinitive ] I'd just started to write a letter when the phone rang. to start to do something
  • beginI'll begin working on the project this weekend.
  • startHave you started your homework yet?
  • commenceWe commenced listening to Uncle Jim's long story, knowing we were in for it now.
  • embark on/upon somethingThat fateful morning, she embarked upon the longest solo climb in history.
  • enter on/upon somethingWith his diagnosis, we entered upon the most difficult time of our lives.
See more results » B2 [ I or T ] (also start up) If a business or other organization starts, or if someone starts one, it is created and starts to operate: She started her own software company. A lot of new restaurants have started up in the region. to create and operate a business, organization, etc.
  • startI always wanted to start my own business.
  • start (something) up It is more attractive to start up a new enterprise than to invest in existing firms.
  • set something upWe plan on setting up a new manufacturing company at the beginning of next fiscal year.
  • set up shopAfter retiring, he set up shop repairing classic cars.
See more results » B1 [ I or T ] to begin to happen or to make something begin to happen: A new series about wildlife has started on Monday nights. Police believe the fire was started by arsonists. to begin to (make something) happen
  • startHurry up – the film has already started.
  • beginThe ceremony is about to begin.
  • commenceThe meeting commenced with a moment of silence.
  • openThe meeting opened with a short word of welcome to new members.
  • originateThe idea for the business originated with my grandmother's recipes.
See more results » A1 [ I or T ] to begin a set of activities with the thing or person mentioned: start with The speaker started with a description of her journey to China. Give me your answers one by one, starting with Lucy.start by You could start by weeding the flowerbeds.start something as something He started his working life as an engineer but later became a teacher. [ I ] informal to begin to complain or be annoying in some way: Don't start with me - we're not going and that's that!don't get someone started informal "It would help if Richard did some work." "Oh, don't get me started on Richard!" get started to begin: When can we get started? See more start a family to have your first child: At that point, we were thinking of starting a family. See more start afresh (US also start fresh) to begin to live in a different way or do things differently: A new house gives you the chance to start afresh. See more start something to begin an argument or a fight: You could tell the guy wanted to start something, so we just walked away. See more start work to begin being employed: He started work at 16 in a bakery. See more to start with B2 at the beginning, or as the first of several things: We only knew two people in Montreal to start with, but we soon made friends. See more
  • He started as an actor, making his debut as a director in 1990.
  • As soon as the war started, any broadcasts with a military theme were taken off the air.
  • People have started to gossip about us.
  • The party had hardly started when she left.
  • Halfway through the meeting my mind started to wander.
Starting and beginning
  • be in the first flush of idiom
  • be/get in on the ground floor idiom
  • become
  • begin
  • branch out phrasal verb
  • ground level
  • grow
  • half-cock
  • hansel
  • here
  • motion
  • sail in phrasal verb
  • start (something) off phrasal verb
  • start on something phrasal verb
  • start out phrasal verb
  • start/set/get the ball rolling idiom
  • starting
  • the ground floor
  • waste
  • wheel
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Success & failure in business Causing things to happen Complaining

start verb (FIRST POINT)

[ I usually + adv/prep ] to begin at one point and then move to another, in distance or range: start at/from The run starts at/from the entrance to the park.start (off/out) We'll need to start (off/out) early because the journey takes six hours.start at the beginning Tell me what happened - start at the beginning. Ticket prices start at/from €80 and go up to €500. Departing
  • abandon
  • abandon ship
  • abandon/jump ship idiom
  • abandonment
  • absquatulate
  • dead
  • gone
  • make tracks idiom
  • make yourself scarce idiom
  • move
  • not see someone for dust idiom
  • offski
  • outgoing
  • pull something off phrasal verb
  • spill
  • spill out phrasal verb
  • strike
  • strike out (somewhere) phrasal verb
  • take something off phrasal verb
  • turf something out phrasal verb
See more results »

start verb (MOVE SUDDENLY)

[ I ] to move your body suddenly because something has surprised or frightened you: start at He started at the sound of the phone. Making short, sudden movements
  • aquiver
  • chatter
  • choppily
  • choppiness
  • convulse
  • convulsion
  • flicker
  • jerk
  • jerkily
  • jerkiness
  • jerky
  • jig
  • quake
  • shaky
  • shook
  • shudder
  • squirm
  • stim
  • toss
  • twitch
See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Surprised

start verb (WORK)

B2 [ I or T ] (also start up) to (cause to) begin to work or operate: I'm having trouble starting the car. The engine won't start. Machines - Functioning
  • action
  • actuator
  • autonomously
  • deactivation
  • faultily
  • faulty
  • fire someone up phrasal verb
  • functionally
  • light
  • operative
  • pack up phrasal verb
  • peg
  • peg out phrasal verb
  • play something up phrasal verb
  • power
  • power (something) up phrasal verb
  • refire
  • road
  • tick
  • working
See more results »

Grammar

Begin or start?We can use the verbs begin and start to mean the same thing but begin is more formal than start. Begin is an irregular verb. Its past simple form is began and its -ed form is begun: …

Phrasal verbs

start again start (something) off start someone off start on something start on at someone start out start over start (something) up startnoun uk /stɑːt/ us /stɑːrt/

start noun (BEGINNING)

B1 [ S ] the beginning of something: from the start We were doubtful about the product's usefulness from the start.start of They announced the start of a new commercial venture.at the start The weather was good at the start (= in the first part) of the week.get off to a shaky/poor/etc. start The event got off to a shaky/poor start with the stage lights failing in the first few minutes. the start of something
  • beginningLet's go back to the beginning. Can you tell me when you arrived at the crime scene?
  • startI didn't like him from the very start.
  • endThis is it – the end of the tour.
  • openingThe opening of the ceremony was marred by protest.
  • commencementWhat is the commencement date of their contract?
  • kick-offWhat time is the kick-off for the banquet and show?
See more results » C2 [ C ] the act of beginning to do something: make a start on We need to make a start on (preparing) the brochure next week. from start to finish C1 including all of something, from the beginning to the end: The whole party was a disaster from start to finish. See more for a start C1 UK first, or as the first in a set of things: We'll take names and phone numbers for a start, then later on we can get more details. used when giving a first example of something: This book is better than her last one. For a start, it's shorter. See more [ C ] an occasion when you are a competitor in a race or one of the team members that plays at the beginning of a game: in start It was her seventh goal of the season in 13 starts. The three-year-old horse is unbeaten in six starts.
  • I was standing near her at the start of the race.
  • I was so optimistic at the start of the year.
  • At the start of the film I was a bit sceptical.
  • We've made a good start on decorating the living room.
  • I'm going to make a start on sorting out these boxes.
Beginnings and starts
  • a baptism of/by fire idiom
  • advent
  • baptism
  • beginning
  • birth
  • clean slate
  • go/be back to square one idiom
  • inauspicious start
  • inception
  • initiation
  • institution
  • introduction
  • recommencement
  • seed
  • starter
  • starting date
  • starting point
  • starting time
  • the thin end of the wedge idiom
  • thin
See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Competing in sport

start noun (ADVANTAGE)

C2 [ S ] an advantage that you have over someone else when you begin something: We gave the youngest children a five-second start (= in a race). Advantage and disadvantage
  • ace
  • an ace up your sleeve idiom
  • attraction
  • be well in there idiom
  • be/stay/keep one jump ahead idiom
  • have something on your side idiom
  • have the inside track idiom
  • have the odds/cards stacked against you idiom
  • head start
  • head start on someone/something
  • leg
  • lock
  • milk
  • percentage
  • preference
  • preferentially
  • privileged
  • profit from something phrasal verb
  • racing start
  • the best of both worlds idiom
See more results »

start noun (SUDDEN MOVEMENT)

[ S ] a sudden movement of the body that you make when something has surprised or frightened you: with a start He woke with a start.give a start She gave a start as I entered. Making short, sudden movements
  • aquiver
  • chatter
  • choppily
  • choppiness
  • convulse
  • convulsion
  • flicker
  • jerk
  • jerkily
  • jerkiness
  • jerky
  • jig
  • quake
  • shaky
  • shook
  • shudder
  • squirm
  • stim
  • toss
  • twitch
See more results » (Definition of start from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

start | American Dictionary

startverb us /stɑrt/

start verb (BEGIN)

Add to word list Add to word list [ I/T ] to begin to do something or go somewhere, or to begin or happen: [ T ] When do you start your new job? [ I ] We started with nothing when we got married. [ I ] Classes start next month. [ I ] Work starts at 9:00 a.m. [ I ] Ticket prices start at $20 (= these are the cheapest prices). [ T ] I just started this book (= began to read it). [ I ] We’ll start out with Lucy (= She will be the first). [ I/T ] infml If you tell someone not to start, you are warning that person not to begin complaining or annoying you: [ I ] Don’t start – I said no!

start verb (CAUSE)

[ T ] to cause something to be or happen: His mother started the craft market at the community center. You’ve been starting trouble all morning.

start verb (MOVE SUDDENLY)

[ I ] to move your body suddenly because something has surprised you: He started when the car backfired.

start verb (OPERATE)

[ I/T ] to cause something to operate, or to begin to work or operate: [ T ] Annie went outside to start the car. [ I ] I heard a lawnmower start.

Idioms

start something to start with

Phrasal verbs

start (something) off start (something) over start up (something) start up something startnoun us /stɑrt/

start noun (BEGINNING)

[ C/U ] the time where something begins, or the act of beginning: [ U ] We were worried from the start. [ U ] They announced the start of the race. [ C ] The play got off to a bad start.

start noun (SUDDEN MOVEMENT)

[ U ] a sudden movement of your body because something has surprised you: He woke with a start when the alarm sounded. (Definition of start from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

start | Business English

startverb uk /stɑːt/ us Add to word list Add to word list [ I or T ]   HR, WORKPLACE to begin to work in a job: Can you start on Monday? I recently started a new job and I'm enjoying it very much so far. Entry-level employees start at low salaries. start work WORKPLACE to begin to be employed for the first time: He started work at 16 in a local baker's. to begin your day at work: I start work at 8.30 in the morning. [ I or T ] to begin an activity or a set of activities: He started the talk with a review of the past year's achievements.start by doing sth She started by thanking us all for attending. [ I or T ] (also start up) if a business or other organization starts, or if someone starts one, it is created and starts to operate: start a business/company She started her own software company last year. The economic model of small, farmer-owned ethanol plants got the industry started. See also start-up [ I ] to begin at one level and then move to another: prices start at/from sth Ticket prices start at €20 and go up to €100. [ I or T ] (also start off); (also start out) to begin in a particular way and then change later: He started his working life as an engineer, but later became a teacher.start as sth The company started as a snow removal business with one truck, and grew from there.start with sth He started with nothing and was a millionaire by the time he was 35. [ I or T ] if a machine or vehicle starts, or you start it, it begins to work or operate: I started the computer and checked my mail.

Phrasal verbs

start (sth) off start sb off start out start over start (sth) up startnoun uk /stɑːt/ us [ C, usually singular ] the beginning of something: get off to a bad/good/slow start The FTSE 100 got off to another good start and climbed steadily through the morning The shares have fallen from 418p at the start of the year to 121p today. Accessibility is something you must think about right from the start when you're choosing your venue. Johnson led the project from start to finish. [ S ] the act of beginning to do something: make a start on sth/doing sth European funding has been obtained to enable us to make a start on the project. [ C, usually plural ] a business or job that has just begun, or a person who has just started a new job: Construction spending, driven by starts of new factories and highways, rose a larger-than-expected 0.9%. They have been providing reliable data on small business starts and closures since 2003. All new starts are expected to sign the workplace agreement. [ C, usually singular ] an opportunity to begin something and start to be successful at it: She got her start with the company as an accountant, auditing their books. [ S ] →  head start a fresh start a situation in which you start something again in a completely new and different way after you have been unsuccessful: The program will allow economically strapped taxpayers to make a fresh start.

See also

head start housing starts (Definition of start from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of start

start The model suggests that rebels start off as ordinary robbers. From the Cambridge English Corpus When the server starts up, it parses the configuration file, and if there are no errors found, immediately starts serving requests. From the Cambridge English Corpus Participants took a break between the two conditions and then completed the other modality, starting again with six new training items. From the Cambridge English Corpus The reversal is supposed to start instantaneously and to run at exactly the same speed as the forward simulation. From the Cambridge English Corpus We used principal-factor analysis (starting with squared multiple correlations as the prior communality estimates) to extract the principal factors from the 17 premenstrual symptoms. From the Cambridge English Corpus The dashed line is the theoretical total nuclei assuming all neurons survive and astroglia start at zero. From the Cambridge English Corpus Only then need the lawyer start to think about the nature of any kind of defence strategy. From the Cambridge English Corpus The themes are: first, critical assessment must start from subjects' understanding; second, a modal fallacy; and third, fallacies of distribution. From the Cambridge English Corpus At this point, things started to fall into place. From the Cambridge English Corpus I intend my remarks as suggestions for expanding the argument - and perhaps the research - beyond the promising start made here. From the Cambridge English Corpus We also assume without loss of generality that the path describing the boundary starts and ends at the same vertical height. From the Cambridge English Corpus Four children under 5 years have started visiting the dentist, but the remaining ten in this age group are still too young. From the Cambridge English Corpus Designing typically starts with these requirements, and additional external requirements are often given later in the process of design. From the Cambridge English Corpus We start by collecting a number of useful results. From the Cambridge English Corpus Admittedly, they represent useful starting points because they simplify the analysis. From the Cambridge English Corpus See all examples of start These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

Collocations with start

start

These are words often used in combination with start.

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

auspicious startFollowing its auspicious start, medieval music retained pride of place in twentieth-century musicology. From the Cambridge English Corpus consecutive startHe was injured during his 7th game and sidelined for the rest of the season, thereby snapping a 67 game consecutive start streak. From Wikipedia This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license. delayed startThis debate has been rather shorter than usual because of the delayed start. From the Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0 These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors. See all collocations with start What is the pronunciation of start?

Translations of start

in Chinese (Traditional) 開始, 著手, （企業或其他機構）開業，開始營運… See more in Chinese (Simplified) 开始, 着手, （企业或其他机构）开业，开始运营… See more in Spanish empezar, comenzar, iniciar… See more in Portuguese começar, iniciar, levar um susto… See more in Marathi in Japanese in Turkish in French in Catalan in Dutch in Tamil in Hindi in Gujarati in Danish in Swedish in Malay in German in Norwegian in Urdu in Ukrainian in Telugu in Bengali in Czech in Indonesian in Thai in Vietnamese in Polish in Korean in Italian सुरू होणे/करणे / सुरुवात होणे/करणे, (उद्योग/व्यवसाय) सुरू करणे, सुरू होणे/करणे… See more ～を始める, 開始する, （物事が）起きる… See more başlamak, başlatmak, kurmak… See more commencer, débuter, se mettre à… See more començar, començament… See more vertrekken, beginnen, starten… See more ஏதாவது செய்யத் தொடங்க, ஒரு வணிகம் அல்லது பிற அமைப்பு தொடங்கினால், அல்லது யாராவது ஒன்றைத் தொடங்கினால்… See more (कुछ) शुरू करना, (कंपनी या कारोबार) शुरू करना, शुरू होना या करना… See more શરૂઆત, પ્રારંભ, શરૂ કરવું… See more starte, begynde, få igang… See more starta, börja, sätta (få) i gång… See more memulakan perjalanan, bermula, menghidupkan… See more aufbrechen, anfangen, anlassen… See more begynne, starte, begynne på… See more شروع کرنا, قائم کرنا, شروع ہونا… See more вирушати в дорогу, починати, братися… See more మొదలుపెట్టడం, మొదలవటం, పని చేయడం మొదలుపెట్టడం… See more শুরু, কিছু করা শুরু করতে, একটি ব্যবসা বা অন্য সংস্থা শুরু হয়… See more vyrazit, začít, nastartovat… See more berangkat, memulai, menghidupkan… See more เริ่มออกเดินทาง, เริ่ม, เริ่มทำงาน… See more khởi hành, bắt đầu công việc, khởi động… See more zaczynać, zaczynać (się), powstawać… See more 시작하다, 시작되다, 시작… See more cominciare, partenza, inizio… See more Need a translator?

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starry-eyed Stars and Stripes stars phrase starship start start (something) off phrasal verb start (something) up phrasal verb start a family phrase start a new life phrase {{#randomImageQuizHook.filename}} {{#randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes Try a quiz now {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{^randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.filename}}

More meanings of start

  • false start
  • head start
  • start-up
  • start-up adjective, at start-up
  • bump start
  • bump-start
  • jump-start
See all meanings
  • start (something) off phrasal verb
  • start (something) over phrasal verb
  • start up (something) phrasal verb
  • start up something phrasal verb
  • start (something) up phrasal verb
  • start (sth) up phrasal verb
  • start (sth) off phrasal verb
See all phrasal verb meanings
  • start something idiom
  • to start with idiom
  • start work phrase
  • fresh start idiom
  • start afresh phrase
  • for a start phrase
  • a fresh start phrase
See all idioms and phrases

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goal

UK /ɡəʊl/ US /ɡoʊl/

to be the player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring goals

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  • English   
    • Verb 
      • start (BEGIN)
      • get started
      • start a family
      • start afresh
      • start something
      • start work
      • to start with
      • start (FIRST POINT)
      • start (MOVE SUDDENLY)
      • start (WORK)
    • Noun 
      • start (BEGINNING)
      • from start to finish
      • for a start
      • start (ADVANTAGE)
      • start (SUDDEN MOVEMENT)
  • American   
    • Verb 
      • start (BEGIN)
      • start (CAUSE)
      • start (MOVE SUDDENLY)
      • start (OPERATE)
    • Noun 
      • start (BEGINNING)
      • start (SUDDEN MOVEMENT)
  • Business   
    • Verb 
      • start
      • start work
    • Noun 
      • start
      • a fresh start
  • Examples
  • Collocations
  • Translations
  • Grammar
  • All translations
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Tag » How Do You Spell Start