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started

v.
A1 Beginner US //ˈstɑɹtɪd// UK //stˈɑːtɪd// start·ed

v. the past tense of start. You use it when something began or when you began doing an activity in the past.

v. the past tense and past participle of 'start', indicating the initiation of an action, process, or state.


SIMPLE

The movie started ten minutes ago.

CONTEXTUAL

We started our journey early in the morning to avoid the heavy city traffic.

COMPLEX

Although the project started as a small community initiative, it eventually expanded into a nationwide program supported by several major non-profit organizations.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Can be followed by an infinitive ('started to rain') or a gerund ('started raining') with little change in meaning.

Pitfall

The show was started at 8:00The show started at 8:00Learners often use passive voice for events that happen naturally or automatically; 'start' is usually used in the active voice for schedules.

Idioms3 entries

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