start

/stɑːt/ (bre, ipa) · /stɑːrt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstärt/ (ame, mw)

start — verb

  • startpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • startshe / she / it
  • startedpast simple
  • starting-ing form

1. to do the first part of an activity, piece of work, or process.

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A1
釋義

to do the first part of an activity, piece of work, or process.

例句

Meera started learning French last year and can already hold a simple conversation.

start + -ing form for beginning a new skill

The children started to cry when the door slammed shut behind them.

start + to-infinitive for reaction

同義詞
  • begin

    neutral and interchangeable, though 'begin' feels slightly more formal in writing

  • commence

    formal register, used in official or ceremonial contexts

  • embark on

    suggests starting a significant or lengthy project or journey

反義詞
  • stop

    the most direct opposite — to cease doing something

  • finish

    focuses on completing rather than simply stopping

  • quit

    informal; to stop permanently, often with some reluctance or failure implied

文法句型

start + to-infinitive

start + -ing form

start + noun phrase

用法筆記

This sense takes both to-infinitive and -ing complements with no practical difference. American English slightly prefers the -ing form for ongoing activities.

常見錯誤

❌I started to studied Spanish last month.
✅I started to study Spanish last month.' or 'I started studying Spanish last month.
💡after 'start', use either the bare to-infinitive or the -ing form, never a past-tense verb.
❌She is starting understanding the lesson.
✅She is starting to understand the lesson.
💡when 'start' is in a continuous tense, always use the to-infinitive.

2. When a company, organization, or institution is created and begins to operate, i

2.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

When a company, organization, or institution is created and begins to operate, it starts; when someone creates one, they start it.

例句

Dewi started her own bakery after saving money for three years.

start + own [type of business]

Local volunteers started the community center to give young people a safe place to meet after school.

active: [founder] started [organization]

同義詞
  • found

    more formal, often used for institutions, schools, or charities

  • establish

    formal; emphasizes creating something intended to last

  • set up

    informal; interchangeable with 'start' for businesses

  • launch

    suggests a public or official beginning, often with promotion

反義詞

文法句型

start + noun (business / company / organization)

be started by + noun phrase (passive)

用法筆記

The object is always an organization or institution. Frequently used with 'own' (start her own company). Common in passive voice when the founder is the focus.

常見錯誤

❌I started a car company last week.' (without context)
✅I started a car-wash business last month.
💡'start a business' needs context about what kind of business. Use a specific type rather than a vague product.

3. When an event, process, or natural phenomenon begins to take place; or when some

3.動詞及物 / 不及物A1
釋義

When an event, process, or natural phenomenon begins to take place; or when someone causes it to begin.

例句

A light rain started falling just as Joaquín reached the bus stop.

start + -ing form for weather phenomenon

The construction on the new school started in March and will finish by September.

intransitive: event + start + time

同義詞
  • begin

    neutral, interchangeable in most contexts

  • break out

    used for sudden events like wars, fires, or diseases

  • arise

    formal; used for situations, problems, or questions appearing

反義詞
  • end

    the natural opposite — when something ceases

  • stop

    neutral opposite; to no longer happen

文法句型

event + start

start + noun (event / process)

start + -ing form (of weather)

用法筆記

The subject is typically a process, event, or natural phenomenon (fire, rain, war, argument, construction). When transitive, the subject causes the event: 'His careless words started a quarrel.'

常見錯誤

❌The meeting started by 9 AM.' (when meaning it began at 9 AM)
✅The meeting started at 9 AM.
💡use 'at' for a specific time, 'by' suggests 'before or at'.

4. to begin a sequence of activities, a meal, a meeting, or a career by first doing

4.動詞及物A2
釋義

to begin a sequence of activities, a meal, a meeting, or a career by first doing or using a particular thing or person.

例句

Élise started the meeting with a summary of the sales figures for last quarter.

start + noun + with + noun

We should start the tour by visiting the old town, then head to the harbor later.

start + noun + by + -ing form

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

start + with + noun phrase

start + by + -ing form

start + noun phrase + with + noun phrase

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 by the presence of a specific starting element: this sense always names what comes first. The pattern 'start + with + something' is the most common. Also used for careers: 'She started as a secretary and became a manager.'

常見錯誤

❌Let's start the meeting with to review last week.
✅Let's start the meeting by reviewing last week.
💡'start with' takes a noun, not a verb. Use 'start by + -ing' with a verb.

5. to begin complaining, criticizing, or behaving in an annoying way, often about s

5.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to begin complaining, criticizing, or behaving in an annoying way, often about something minor or repeated.

例句

Don't start — I already said I would clean my room after breakfast.

imperative: 'Don't start!' to stop complaints

Asher started again about how noisy the neighbors were every weekend.

start again + about + topic

同義詞
  • go on about

    informal, British; to complain at length

  • whinge

    informal, British; to complain in an annoying way

文法句型

start + -ing form (complaining / on about)

Don't start! (imperative)

用法筆記

Almost always used in informal spoken English. The imperative 'Don't start!' is a fixed expression meaning 'Stop complaining before you get going.' The subject is always a person. Not used with a direct object.

常見錯誤

❌Don't start to complain about the food.' (overly formal for this sense)
✅Don't start on the food again.
💡the informal sense uses 'start on' or 'start about', not 'start to-infinitive'.

6. When a planned event such as a show, film, class, or meeting begins at a particu

6.動詞不及物A1
釋義

When a planned event such as a show, film, class, or meeting begins at a particular time.

例句

The concert starts at eight o'clock, so we should leave the house by seven.

event + start + at + time

Brandon's favorite TV show starts in ten minutes, so he quickly turned on the television.

event + start + in + time duration

同義詞
  • begin

    neutral, interchangeable for scheduled events

  • commence

    formal; used for ceremonies or official events

反義詞
  • end

    the scheduled finishing time of an event

  • finish

    the conclusion of an activity

文法句型

event + start + at/around + time

event + start + in + duration

用法筆記

Always intransitive — no direct object. The subject is a scheduled event, not a person. Distinguish from sense 3 (BEGIN HAPPENING) by the planning element: sense 6 events have a fixed start time (shows, classes, meetings), while sense 3 events begin spontaneously (rain, fire, arguments).

常見錯誤

❌The game is starting at 7 PM Tuesday.
✅The game starts at 7 PM on Tuesday.
💡for scheduled future events, use the simple present tense ('starts at'), not the present continuous ('is starting at').

7. to give birth to or become the parent of your first child, an event often descri

7.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to give birth to or become the parent of your first child, an event often described as starting a family

例句

Kwame and Shirin started a family soon after their wedding.

collocation: start a family

After years focused on their careers, Imani and Tomás decided to start a family.

文法句型

start + a family

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'start a family' rather than with a direct object naming the child.

8. to change your habits, location, or lifestyle in a significant way, especially a

8.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to change your habits, location, or lifestyle in a significant way, especially after a difficult period or a failure

例句

After the divorce, Élise moved to a small town in the south to start afresh.

pattern: start afresh / start over

Talia decided to start a new life by leaving her job and becoming a nurse.

同義詞
  • begin again

    similar meaning but more neutral; 'start fresh' implies leaving problems behind

  • turn over a new leaf

    more informal and idiom-like, emphasizes personal reform

文法句型

start + fresh / anew / again

start + [prepositional phrase]

用法筆記

Often paired with adverbs such as 'again', 'fresh', or 'anew' to reinforce the idea of a clean break from the past.

常見錯誤

❌He started fresh his career.
✅He started his career fresh.
💡'fresh' is an adverb here and comes after the object, or the pattern 'start fresh' is used without an object.

9. to deliberately cause a disagreement, conflict, or physical fight to happen

9.動詞及物B2
釋義

to deliberately cause a disagreement, conflict, or physical fight to happen

例句

Sari accused Darius of starting the argument over nothing.

pattern: start + an argument / a fight

The drunk customer tried to start a fight with the bartender.

同義詞
  • provoke

    more formal; emphasizes the deliberate incitement

  • instigate

    formal tone; often used in legal contexts

  • pick a fight

    informal phrasal verb with the same meaning

反義詞
  • avoid

    to stay away from conflict

文法句型

start + a fight / an argument / trouble

用法筆記

Common in spoken English when assigning blame, especially with children ('Who started it?'). The object is typically a negative interaction — not used for friendly disagreements.

常見錯誤

❌He started a conversation with me about the weather.' (neutral, not a conflict).
✅He started a fight with me over the parking space.
💡'start' in this sense requires a negative outcome such as a fight, argument, or trouble.

10. to take up a job or position with an employer, usually for the first time in tha

10.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to take up a job or position with an employer, usually for the first time in that role

例句

Lauren started her new job at the children's hospital last Monday.

pattern: start + [possessive] + new job

Esme started as an intern at the firm and became a partner eight years later.

同義詞
  • begin

    more general; 'start' is more common for employment

  • join

    used when a person becomes a member of a company or team

反義詞
  • leave

    to end employment with a company

  • quit

    informal, to resign voluntarily

文法句型

start + [job title / company]

start as + [position]

start at + [company]

用法筆記

Often followed by a role ('start as a trainee'), a company name ('start at Google'), or a possessive ('start my new job').

常見錯誤

❌I started to work last week at the company.' (grammatically correct but less natural).
✅I started my new job last week.
💡'start a job' is the most natural collocation when beginning employment.

11. used when introducing the first item in a series, the primary justification for

11.動詞不及物B1
釋義

used when introducing the first item in a series, the primary justification for a claim, or the situation at an earlier moment in time

例句

To start with, I would like to thank everyone who helped with the project.

discourse marker: 'to start with' opening a speech

The hotel was too expensive to start with, and the location was also poor.

同義詞

文法句型

to start with

用法筆記

Appears as the fixed phrase 'to start with' used as a discourse marker at the beginning or embedded in a sentence. Do not confuse with sense 4 ('start with' meaning to begin an activity using a particular thing or person).

常見錯誤

❌Start with, I want to say thank you.
✅To start with, I want to say thank you.
💡'to start with' requires the infinitive 'to' when used as a discourse marker.

12. to have a particular starting point in terms of price, distance, time, or size,

12.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to have a particular starting point in terms of price, distance, time, or size, and then extend onward to a further point

例句

Apartment prices in this district start at around six million New Taiwan dollars.

pattern: start at + [price]

The parade starts at the main train station and finishes in the city square.

同義詞
  • begin

    more general; 'start' is preferred for prices and ranges

  • range from

    specifically for describing a span between two points

文法句型

start + at + [price / number]

start + from + [place / amount]

start + at + [place] + and + [go / end / finish]

用法筆記

Commonly takes 'at' for a specific price or number, and 'from' for a location. The end point is often introduced by 'and (go / end / finish) up to …'.

常見錯誤

❌The tickets start ¥500.
✅The tickets start at ¥500.
💡'start at' requires the preposition 'at' before a price or number.

13. to make a sudden, quick movement of your body when something unexpected or frigh

13.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to make a sudden, quick movement of your body when something unexpected or frightening catches your attention

例句

When a bird flew into the window, Linh started and let out a small cry.

intransitive: start + and + [reaction]

Marta started at the sound of footsteps behind her in the dark alley.

collocation: start at [sudden sound]

同義詞
  • jump

    more common and slightly less formal than 'start' in this sense

  • flinch

    a smaller, more controlled movement, often in anticipation of pain

  • wince

    an expression of pain or discomfort in the face rather than a full body movement

文法句型

start + at + [cause]

start + when + [event]

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'at' to name the cause of the surprise, or with 'when' to describe the event that triggered the reaction.

常見錯誤

❌I started when I heard the good news.
✅I jumped for joy when I heard the good news.
💡'start' in this sense is almost always for sudden, surprising or frightening events, not for positive surprises.

14. when an engine, machine, or vehicle begins to run; or to make it begin to run

14.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

when an engine, machine, or vehicle begins to run; or to make it begin to run

例句

Salma turned the key and the old car started on the first try.

intransitive: [vehicle] + starts

Could you please start the engine while I check the directions?

transitive: start + [machine/engine]

同義詞
  • turn on

    used mainly for electrical and electronic devices

  • fire up

    informal, used for engines or enthusiasm

  • get going

    informal, works for both vehicles and tasks

反義詞

文法句型

start + [vehicle/engine/machine]

[vehicle/engine/machine] + starts

用法筆記

For computing devices, 'turn on' or 'boot up' is more natural than 'start', though 'start up' works. 'Start' by itself is most typical for engines, motors, and vehicles.

常見錯誤

❌I started the computer and checked my email.
✅I turned on the computer and checked my email.
💡For electronic devices like computers and phones, 'turn on' or 'boot up' sound more natural than 'start'.

15. to be chosen as one of the players who begins a game or sports event; or to put

15.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to be chosen as one of the players who begins a game or sports event; or to put a player into the game at the start

例句

Amihan started every match for the university volleyball team last season.

intransitive: [player] starts + [game]

The coach decided to start two new defenders in the championship final.

transitive: coach starts + [player]

同義詞
反義詞
  • bench

    to keep a player out of the starting lineup

文法句型

[player] + starts + [game/match]

start + as + [position]

start + at + [position]

用法筆記

Used primarily in team sports such as basketball, football, and baseball. When transitive, the coach or manager is the subject and the athlete is the object.

常見錯誤

❌I started in the game last night.
✅I started the game last night.
💡In sports contexts, 'start' is used with the game as a direct object ('start the match'), not 'start in the game'.

start — noun

start — abbreviation