Start (verb): to begin doing something, or to cause something to begin operating or happening. "She started the engine."
Start (noun): the beginning of something; also an advantage gained at the beginning of a competition or activity. "A good start to any essay is a clear, concise introduction."
What Does Start Mean?
Start is one of the most frequently used words in English, appearing in everyday conversation, academic writing, and formal contexts alike. As a verb it describes the action of beginning — whether you are starting a task, a journey, a conversation, or a machine. As a noun it names the point at which something begins, or an initial advantage over others.
The word covers three core meanings: (1) to begin an activity (start working); (2) to cause something to operate (start the car); and (3) as a noun, the opening moment of an event or the advantage you hold at the beginning (a head start, off to a good start).
Understanding start well means knowing which structure follows it. It accepts both the to-infinitive and the -ing form with almost identical meaning: "He started to run" and "He started running" are equally correct. However, when start is itself in the -ing form, the to-infinitive is preferred to avoid a double -ing construction.
Example Sentences by Level
| Sentence | Level | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| I start school at half past eight every morning. | A2 | verb — daily routine, present simple |
| They started playing football in the park after lunch. | B1 | verb + gerund — past simple, leisure activity |
| A good start to any essay is a clear, concise introduction. | B1 | noun — academic writing advice |
| The government has started to invest heavily in renewable energy. | B2 | verb + infinitive — present perfect, formal register |
| Having secured early funding, the start-up got off to a flying start and exceeded its first-year targets. | C1 | noun idiom — participle clause, business context |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| make a start | We need to make a start on the report today. |
| get off to a good start | The new team got off to a very good start. |
| a fresh start | Moving abroad gave her the fresh start she needed. |
| a head start | Learning Latin gives you a head start with vocabulary. |
| start from scratch | The original file was lost, so we had to start from scratch. |
| a false start | After two false starts, the project finally got underway. |
| a flying start | She got off to a flying start in her new role. |
| start afresh | He deleted his draft and decided to start afresh. |
| start with a bang | The festival started with a bang — a surprise headline act. |
| for a start | For a start, the report is too long and needs editing. |
Usage Notes
Key Points for Learners
Start + gerund or infinitive: Both are correct with no significant difference in meaning. "She started singing" = "She started to sing."
Avoid double -ing: When start is itself in the -ing form, use the to-infinitive for the next verb. Say "It was starting to rain", not "It was starting raining."
Start vs. begin: Both are interchangeable in most contexts, but start is preferred in informal speech and for concrete physical actions (start the car, start a fire). Begin can sound more formal or literary.
For a start (discourse marker): used to introduce the first in a list of reasons or points, often suggesting there are more to follow: "For a start, the price is too high."
Start-up (noun): A compound noun referring to a newly established business, widely used in business and technology English: "She founded a tech start-up."
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
It was starting raining when we left.
It was starting to rain when we left. (avoid double -ing after start)
She started the work since Monday.
She started the work on Monday. (use on with specific days, not since with simple past)
We need to do a start on the project.
We need to make a start on the project. (fixed collocation: make a start)