start

1. verb

1)

the meeting starts at 7:45

Syn:

begin, commence, get underway, go ahead, get going; informal kick off

Ant:

finish

2)

this was how her illness had started

Syn:

arise, come into being, begin, commence, be born, come into existence, appear, arrive, come forth, establish oneself, emerge, erupt, burst out, originate, develop

Ant:

clear up, end

3)

she started her own charity

Syn:

establish, set up, found, create, bring into being, institute, initiate, inaugurate, introduce, open, launch, float, kick-start, jump-start, get something off the ground, pioneer, organize, mastermind; informal kick something off

Ant:

end

4)

we had better start now if we want to finish the job

Syn:

commence, make a start, begin, take the first step, make the first move, get going, go ahead, set things moving, start/get/set the ball rolling, buckle to/down, turn to; informal get moving, get cracking, get down to, get to it, get down to business, get the show on the road, take the plunge, kick off, get off one's backside, fire away

Ant:

stop, give up, procrastinate

5)

he started across the field

Syn:

set off, set out, start out, set forth, begin one's journey, get on the road, depart, leave, get underway, make a start, sally forth, embark, sail; informal hit the road

Ant:

arrive, stay

6)

you can start the machine

Syn:

activate, set in motion, switch on, start up, turn on, fire up; energize, actuate, set off, start off, set something going/moving

Ant:

stop, shut down, close down

7)

the machine started

Syn:

begin working, start up, get going, spring into life

Ant:

stop

8)

"Oh my!" she said, starting

Syn:

flinch, jerk, jump, twitch, recoil, shy, shrink, blench, wince

2. noun

1)

the start of the event

Syn:

beginning, commencement, inception

Ant:

end

2)

the start of her illness

Syn:

onset, commencement, emergence, (first) appearance, arrival, eruption, dawn, birth; informal square one

3)

a quarter of an hour's start

Syn:

lead, head start, advantage

Ant:

handicap

4)

a start in life

Syn:

advantageous beginning, flying start, helping hand, lift, assistance, support, encouragement, boost, kick-start; informal break, leg up

Ant:

handicap

5)

she awoke with a start

Syn:

jerk, twitch, flinch, wince, spasm, convulsion, jump