Most of the time a start synonym needs to answer one question: are you starting an action, starting something new, or starting a machine? Begin and commence fit actions, launch and set up fit new ventures, and switch on or fire up fit devices. For lively speech, kick off is the friendly pick.
Start is also a noun ("a good start") and a verb meaning to jump in surprise. Each sense has its own part of the page, and there is another word for start in the past tense too, so you can find a started synonym or a word for starting without guessing.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
begin, launch, kick off, commence, set upPart of speech
Verb and nounMost formal
commence, initiate, instituteMost casual
kick off, get going, get crackingAntonyms
finish, end, stop, concludeWatch out
Commence sounds stiff in daily speech. Keep it for ceremonies, contracts and notices.Word forms covered
starts, started, starting, a start
Start synonym chart: six senses
| Use | Try | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Begin an action | begin, set about, embark on | We set about cleaning the garage. |
| Begin an event | kick off, open, commence | The fair kicks off at noon. |
| Found a group or firm | launch, found, establish, set up | She set up a small bakery. |
| Cause a process | trigger, spark, initiate | The report sparked a debate. |
| Power a device | switch on, boot up, fire up | Boot up the laptop first. |
| Jump in fright | flinch, jolt, jump | He jolted when the door slammed. |
Casual kick off to formal commence
Each chip gets a little more buttoned up than the last. Kick off borrows from sports and feels upbeat. Get going suits a nudge to a sleepy roommate still in pajamas. Begin sits in the calm center and fits nearly every register. Launch sounds deliberate and suits products, projects and campaigns. Commence belongs on notices: "Boarding will commence shortly."
Begin and start swap freely in most sentences. Start is a touch more casual, and only start works for machines: you start a car, you never begin a car.
A started synonym and words for starting
For the past form, pick from the matching sense group: began, launched, set up, kicked off, founded. On a resume, strong past forms make the work sound owned.
- Started a book club becomes founded a book club.
- Started a new filing system becomes introduced a new filing system.
- We started the meeting late becomes we opened the meeting late.
- The rain started at six becomes the rain began at six.
- She is starting a degree becomes she is beginning a degree or embarking on a degree.
- Starting today, the office opens at eight becomes from today or as of today.
For job applications, introduced, launched and spearheaded read as leadership. Many more sit under action verbs.
Real moments: choosing the verb
A team email: "We will start the project on Monday and start weekly check-ins after that." Swap the first verb: "We will launch the project on Monday and start weekly check-ins after that." Launch signals a formal beginning; start stays relaxed for the routine part.
A message to a friend: "Ready to start?" A warmer version: "Ready to get going?" Nobody texts "Shall we commence?" unless joking.
Nouns: a good start, a fresh beginning
As a noun, start has these neighbors. Beginning is the general word. Outset is formal and often appears in "from the outset." Onset is used for unwelcome things such as illness or winter. Inception suits the founding of an organization. Dawn is poetic: the dawn of a new era.
A head start becomes an advantage or a lead. A false start is a wrong step or a failed first try.
Swaps that change the meaning
Create is not always start: you can start a fight but you would not create one in most speech. Open works for shops and meetings, not for hobbies. Initiate also means to admit someone into a group, so "initiate new staff" can sound like a ritual. Trigger suggests an outside cause, often a bad one, such as "trigger an alarm."
Antonyms of start
To end something, use finish, end, conclude or complete. To end it early, use stop, halt or quit. For machines, switch off and shut down fit.
- The talk concluded with questions.
- Shut down the computer before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
Is begin or start more formal?
Begin is slightly more formal, and commence is more formal still. In most writing, begin and start can swap without problems.
Which word can replace started on a resume?
Founded, launched, initiated and set up all sound stronger. Match the verb to your real role, then name the outcome.
How else can I say let's start?
Let's begin, let's get going, let's kick off and let's get started all work. Shall we begin sounds polite in meetings.
Which word means to start something new?
Launch, found and establish fit new businesses, groups and projects. Pioneer adds the idea of being the very first.
Which verbs mean the reverse of start?
Finish, end and stop are the main opposites. Conclude is a formal option for talks, events and essays.
What does start mean when someone starts at a noise?
It means they jump or flinch in surprise. Jolt and flinch are the closest swaps.