Usage of start details

1.VERB start (do something) If you start to do something, you do something that you were not doing before and you continue doing it.

John then unlocked the front door and I started to follow him up the stairs...

John then opened the front door and I started to follow him up the stairs.

It was 1956 when Susanna started the work on the garden...

Susanna started building this garden in 1956.

She started cleaning the kitchen.

She started cleaning the kitchen.

Start is also a noun.

After several starts, she read the report properly.

After several interruptions, she began to read the report smoothly. .

2.V-ERG (make) start; (make) happen When something starts, or if someone starts it, it takes place from a particular time.

The fire is thought to have started in an upstairs room...

The fire is believed to have started in an upstairs room.

The Great War started in August of that year...

The Great War started in August of that year...

The Great War started in August of that year.

Trains start at 11.00 and an hourly service will operate until 16.00...

Trains start at 11:00 and an hourly service will operate until 16:00.

Start is also a noun.

...1918, four years after the start of the Great War...

1918, the first time 4 years after the outbreak of the world war

She demanded to know why she had not been told from the start.

She demanded to know why she had not been told from the start.

3.VERB (start from...); (start from...) If you start by doing something, or if you start with something, you do that thing first in a series of actions.

I started by asking how many day-care centers were located in the United States...

I started by asking how many day-care centers were located in the United States...

I started by asking how many day-care centers were located in the United States.

He started with a good holiday in Key West, Florida.

He started with a good holiday in Key West, Florida.

4.VERBThe first job was...You use start to say what someone's first job was. For example, if their first job was that of a factory worker, you can say that they started as a factory worker.

Betty started as a shipping clerk at the clothes factory...

Betty’s first job was as a shipping clerk at the clothes factory.

Grace Robertson started as a photographer with Picture Post in 1947.

Grace Robertson started working as a photographer with Picture Post magazine in 1947.

Start off means the same as start .start off Same as start

Mr. Dambar had started off as an assistant to Mrs. Spear's husband.

Dambar Mr. Spear's first job was as an assistant to Mrs. Spear's husband.

5.VERBSee also: start-up; start; found When someone starts something such as a new business, they create it or cause it to begin.

George Granger has started a health center and I know he's looking for qualified staff...

George Granger opened a health center and I know he's looking for qualified staff.

Now is probably as good a time as any to start a business.

Now is probably as good a time as any to start a business.

Now is probably as good a time as any to start a business.

Start up means the same as start .start up Same as start

The cost of starting up a day care center for children ranges from $150,000 to $300,000...

< p>The cost to open a child day care center ranges from $150,000 to $300,000.

He said what a good idea it would be to start a community magazine up.

He said what a good idea it would be to start a community magazine up.

He said it would be a good idea to start a community magazine.

6.V-ERG starts, starts (engine, car, machine, etc.) If you start an engine, car, or machine, or if it starts, it begins to work.

He started the car, which hummed smoothly...

He started the car, which hummed smoothly...

He started the car, which hummed smoothly.

We were just passing one of the parking bays when a car's engine started.

When we passed by a parking area, a car started its engine.

Start up means the same as start .start up Same as start

He waited until they went inside the building before starting up the car and driving off...

< p>He waited until they entered the building before starting the car and driving away.

Put the key in the ignition and turn it to start the car up...

Put the key in the ignition and turn it to start the car up...

Put the key in the ignition and turn it to start the car up.

The engine of the seaplane started up.

The engine of the seaplane started up.

Usage Note:

Start, begin, and commence all have a similar meaning, although commence is more formal and is not normally used in conversation. The meeting is ready to begin.. . He tore the list up and started a fresh one... The space probe commenced taking a series of photographs. Note that begin, start, and commence can all be followed by an -ing form or a noun, but only begin and start can be followed by a 'to' infinitive.

start, begin and commence have similar meanings, but commence is more formal and is not usually used in conversations, such as: The meeting is ready to begin (the meeting is about to begin) started), He tore the list up and started a fresh one (He tore the list into pieces and started another one), The space probe commenced taking a series of photographs (The space probe began taking a series of photographs). Note that begin, start and commence can all be followed by -ing forms or nouns, but only begin and start can be followed by an infinitive with to.

7.VERBStart; startle; trembleIf you start, your body suddenly moves slightly as a result of surprise or fear.

She put the bottle on the table, banging it down hard. He started at the sound...

She dropped the bottle on the table with a bang, startling him.

Rachel started forward on the sofa. — 'You mean you've arrested Pete?'

Rachel started forward on the sofa. ——"You mean you've caught Pete?"

Start is also a noun.

Sylvia woke with a start...

西 Sylvia woke up suddenly.

He gave a start of surprise and astonishment.

He was so startled that he shivered all over.

8.See also: head start; false start;

9.PHRASE first; first You use for a start or to start with to introduce the first of a number of things or reasons that you want to mention or could mention.

You must get her name and address, and that can be a problem for a start...

You must find out first Her name and address, and that was probably the first piece of the puzzle.

It comes as a surprise to be reminded that he is 70. For a start, he doesn't look it...

It comes as a surprise to be reminded that he is 70. For a start, he doesn't look it...

It comes as a surprise to be reminded that he is 70. Surprising. First of all, he doesn't look like it.

To start with, where and when did it happen?

First of all, where and when did it happen?

10.PHRASE Good start/Bad start If you get off to a good start, you are successful in the early stages of doing something. If you get off to a bad start, you are not successful in the early stages of doing something.

The new Prime Minister has got off to a good start, but he still has to demonstrate what manner of leader he is going to be...

The new prime minister has made a good start after taking office, but he still has to show his own governing style.

England got off to a bad start in the Five Nations' Championship, losing 35-10 to France.

England got off to a bad start in the Five Nations' Championship, losing 35-10 to France.

England got off to a bad start in the Five Nations' Championship, losing 35-10 to France. To the French team.

11. PHRASE (thing, process, etc.) To start with means at the very first stage of an event or process.

To start with, the pressure on she was very heavy, but it's eased off a bit now...

She was very stressed at first, but it's better now.

Success was assured and, at least to start with, the system operated smoothly.

Success was assured, at least to start with, the system operated smoothly.

Success was assured, at least to start with, the system operated smoothly.