verb
to begin doing something, or to begin at a particular time
Classes start next Monday.
I started learning Spanish last year.
Common phrases & grammar
start work · start school · start early · start again
start + gerund
start + to + verb
American English
How to pronounce start
verb · nounA2Very common word
STAHRT
/stɑɹt̚/
One syllable.
to begin doing something, or to begin at a particular time
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
verb
to cause an activity, event, or process to begin
They started the meeting at noon.
She started a small business.
Common phrases & grammar
start a business · start a conversation · start a project · start a fire
start + noun
start + noun + with + noun
verb
to make an engine, machine, or computer begin working; or to begin working itself
Press this button to start the machine.
My car won't start.
Common phrases & grammar
start the car · start the engine · start the computer
start + noun
noun + start
verbless common
to make a sudden movement because something surprises or frightens you
She started at the sudden noise.
I started when the dog barked.
Common phrases & grammar
start at + noun
start when + clause
Useful expressions
to begin again
The file was wrong, so I started over.
to begin doing something
Let's get started on the presentation.
to begin earlier than other people and gain an advantage
We left early to get a head start.