To start means to begin something or cause something to begin. When you start reading a book, you open to the first page. When you start your homework, you pick up your pencil and begin working. A race starts when the official fires the starting pistol.

The word works in many situations. You can start a conversation, start a car's engine, start a fire (by lighting kindling), or start a new habit. Teachers start class each morning. Seasons start on specific dates. Your heart started beating before you were born and hasn't stopped since.

Start can also mean to jump suddenly in surprise or fear, like when someone starts at an unexpected loud noise. You might say “You startled me!” when someone sneaks up behind you.

As a noun, a start is the beginning point of something. Getting a head start means beginning before others do, giving you an advantage. A fresh start means beginning again after a failure or mistake, leaving the past behind. Athletes crouch at the starting line before a race, ready to explode into motion at the start.

The opposite of start is stop or finish. Everything that exists had a start, and knowing when and how to start something can make the difference between accomplishing your goals and just thinking about them.