Start is a verb meaning to begin an action or process, or a noun referring to the initial point of something. It implies initiation, activation, or the moment when activity commences. In everyday usage, it signals the onset of tasks, events, or sequences, and can function in various tenses and phrasal forms (start up, start off, start over).
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"I will start the project tomorrow after I finish this briefing."
"The race starts at noon, so arrive early."
"She pressed the button to start the machine and it hummed to life."
"He misheard the cue and began to sing, mistaking it for the start of the chorus."
Start derives from the Old English word styrtan or stertan, meaning to begin or to set in motion, with roots tracing back to Proto-Germanic *stertijanan, which conveyed sudden movement or to set in motion. The Semitic loanword connection is debated, but the Germanic lineage solidified the sense of initiating an action. In Middle English, start evolved to describe both the act of beginning and the sudden movement or jump, as in startle. The modern sense of initiating a task or operation emerged over centuries, reinforced by phrases like “to start the engine” or “start a journey.” Over time, “start” also extended to metaphorical beginnings (start of an era, start of a trend). The word’s versatility—transitivity, phrasal verb compatibility (start up, start over, start in)—contributes to its ubiquity in everyday English. The earliest known literary attestations appear in medieval English texts, with a gradual shift from literal physical motion to abstract initiation in the Early Modern period. Today, “start” is a high-frequency, foundational verb and noun in both formal and informal registers, with strong collocational ties to action, timing, and preparation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "start" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "start"
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Pronounce it as one syllable: US/UK/AU /stɑːrt/ in rhotic accents; in many US and UK dialects you’ll hear /stɑːt/ for non-rhotic variants where the R is not strongly released. Keep the initial /st/ cluster crisp, then place the low-back tense vowel /ɑː/ (lengthened) before a final /t/. In quick speech, you may hear a reduced vowel in casual contexts like /stɔːt/ in some dialects, but the standard, precise form is /stɑːrt/ (US) or /stɑːt/ (UK/AU) with a clear final /t/.
Common errors: (1) Diluting the /st/ cluster into a single sound; keep /s/ and /t/ distinct with a crisp release. (2) Using a rounded or lax vowel like /ɒ/ instead of /ɑː/; aim for a broad, open back vowel. (3) Final /t/ is unreleased in rapid speech; for clarity, release the /t/ or use a tapping release in natural speech. Practice with focused lip-tap and hold the /ɑː/ longer before the /t/.
US: strong rhoticity with rhotacized /r/ if present in some contexts; /stɑːrt/ with clear /ɑː/ and audible /t/. UK: non-rhotic or weakly rhotic; often /stɑːt/ with a shorter final vowel and less pronounced /r/. Australia: similar to UK but with slightly more centralized vowel quality; often /stɑːt/ with a clear stop at the end. In all, the key is vowel quality /ɑː/ and whether the final /r/ is pronounced (US) or not (UK/AU).
The difficulty centers on the tense back vowel /ɑː/ followed by a voiceless aspirated /t/. In rapid speech, the /t/ may be unreleased or glottal, obscuring clarity. The /st/ cluster also demands precise timing: the sibilant /s/ must be crisp, the /t/ released cleanly, and the vowel length held before the consonant. Mispronunciation often involves shortening the vowel or confusing the vowel with /ɒ/ or /ɑ/; focusing on a full, open back vowel and a definitive /t/ release helps.
A unique aspect is keeping the /t/ clearly released in careful speech, especially at sentence ends or before consonants. In some dialects, particularly in fast American speech, the final /t/ may become a flap or a silent release, affecting clarity. Another nuance is the subtle resonance of the /ɑː/ vowel; ensure your jaw is relaxed, tongue low, and lips neutral. The balance of a strong onset /st/ with a long open vowel before the stop is essential for natural, intelligible pronunciation.
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