start with sb/sth
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to begin a task or a list by using or talking about a specific person or thing first.
phrasal verb. to initiate a sequence, process, or discussion by addressing or utilizing a specific entity as the primary point of departure.
Let's start with the easiest questions first.
We have many people to interview today, so we will start with the first candidate on the list.
The lecturer decided to start with a brief overview of the historical context before delving into the specific data points of the study.
- begin with
- open with
- kick off with
- end with
- finish with
- conclude with
- Particles
- with
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- start + with + object
the object is the first item in a series or the first step in a process.
contrast with 'begin by' which is usually followed by a gerund; 'start with' is almost always followed by a noun phrase.
We start with to read the book.We start with the book.the preposition 'with' must be followed by a noun or pronoun, not an infinitive verb.
Last updated April 24, 2026