# start

/ˈstɑɹt/ (US) · /stˈɑːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/start
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to begin an activity

verb · CEFR A1

to begin doing something or to happen from a certain time.

For teachers: to begin an action, state, or process; functions as an ergative verb taking either a gerund or an infinitive.

- We should start the meeting now because everyone has arrived.
- The research team decided to start the clinical trials earlier than planned to capitalise on the recent breakthrough in laboratory testing.

### 2. to make a machine work

verb · CEFR A2

to make a car, engine, or machine begin to operate.

For teachers: to cause a machine, engine, or electronic device to begin operating.

- The car wouldn't start this morning because the battery was dead.
- Despite the freezing temperatures, the backup generator started immediately when the main power grid failed during the storm.

### 3. to jump from surprise

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to move your body suddenly because you are surprised or scared.

For teachers: to make a sudden involuntary movement of the body, typically caused by surprise, fear, or pain.

- She started when the door suddenly slammed shut behind her.
- The protagonist started at the sound of a floorboard creaking in the hallway, his heart racing in the absolute silence of the library.

### 4. the beginning

noun · CEFR A1

the point in time or the place where something begins.

For teachers: the point in time or space at which something has its origin or beginning.

- The start of the movie was much better than the ending.
- From the start of the negotiations, it was clear that neither party was willing to compromise on the core environmental clauses.

### 5. an advantage

noun · CEFR B1

an advantage that you have at the beginning of a competition.

For teachers: an initial advantage granted to a participant in a competition or task; often used in the phrase 'head start'.

- The younger children were given a ten-meter start in the race.
- By completing the preparatory reading over the summer, she gained a significant start on her classmates before the semester even began.

### 6. a young plant

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

a small, young plant that is ready to be moved into a garden.

For teachers: a seedling or young plant that has been germinated in a controlled environment for later transplantation.

- I bought some tomato starts at the local market to plant this weekend.
- The nursery provides high-quality vegetable starts that are already hardened off and ready for immediate outdoor cultivation.

### 7. a sudden movement

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden, nervous movement of the body.

For teachers: a sudden involuntary physical reaction or jerk, often associated with waking or being startled.

- He woke up with a start after having a bad dream.
- She sat up with a sudden start, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar shadows in the hotel room.

## Examples

- We had a great start to our holiday.
- The runners gathered at the start of the track, waiting for the official signal to begin the race.
- The project's successful start was largely attributed to the meticulous planning and resource allocation conducted during the preliminary phase of the operation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.