started
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
An inflected form of start · past form.
How often you will meet it
Rank 619 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 31,158 times across 139,755 chapters — 0.015% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
verb
- take the first step or steps in carrying out an action also: get down, begin, get, start out, set about, set out We began working at dawnWho will start?
- set in motion, cause to start also: begin, lead off, commence The U.S. started a war in the Middle EastThe Iraqis began hostilities
- leave also: depart, part, start out, set forth, set off, set out The family took off for Florida
- have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense also: begin The DMZ begins right over the hillThe second movement begins after the Allegro
- bring into being also: originate, initiate He initiated a new programStart a foundation
- get off the ground also: start up, embark on, commence Who started this company?We embarked on an exciting enterprise
started in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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At the sound of her new name Christian started, and she, too, turned scarlet.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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The boy started up the hill, and in a moment the girl was trotting after him.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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I heard Mrs. Inglethorp call “Cynthia” impatiently, and the girl started and ran back to the house.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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And so the day was fix'd; And forth they started in good trim, Tho' not with toil umnix'd.
Sketches by Seymour — Volume 04 · Robert Seymour · Chapter 1
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Much disappointed, he started to go out again when he stubbed his toe on the same floor board.
The Magic of Oz · L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum · Chapter 1