Start vs. Begin — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 31, 2023
"Start" often implies initiating an action or event, often abruptly; "begin" suggests the onset of a process or activity, typically more gradual.
Difference Between Start and Begin
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Key Differences
"Start" generally conveys the initiation of an action or event, frequently with a sense of suddenness or immediacy. "Begin," however, leans towards indicating the commencement of a process or activity, often implying a more gradual or deliberate onset.
In the context of physical actions or movements, "start" can imply a sudden or prompt initiation, as in starting a race. "Begin" in similar contexts tends to imply a more measured or gradual initiation of movement or action.
When discussing projects or tasks, "start" is often used to indicate the initial phase, particularly when emphasizing quick or decisive action. "Begin," in contrast, is commonly used to describe the onset of more prolonged or continuous activities or processes.
In emotional or psychological contexts, "start" can imply a reaction, like starting in surprise. "Begin" is less commonly used in such contexts, more often reserved for the initiation of states or processes that develop over time.
In literary or formal contexts, "begin" is often preferred for its slightly more formal or traditional tone. "Start," while perfectly acceptable, can carry a more colloquial or modern connotation.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Often implies suddenness or immediacy
Suggests a more gradual or deliberate onset
Physical Actions
Used for abrupt or prompt initiations
Indicates a more measured initiation
Projects/Tasks
Emphasizes quick or decisive action
Used for prolonged or continuous activities
Emotional Contexts
Implies a reaction or suddenness
Less common, suggests developing states
Formality
More colloquial or modern
Slightly more formal or traditional
Compare with Definitions
Start
To initiate or commence an action or event.
She will start her new job next Monday.
Begin
To originate; come into existence.
The story begins in a small coastal town.
Start
To cause to function or operate.
Please start the dishwasher once it's full.
Begin
To set in motion.
The ceremony will begin with a traditional dance.
Start
To originate or come into being.
The fire started due to faulty wiring.
Begin
Perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity)
It was beginning to snow
She began by rewriting the syllabus
Peter had just begun a life sentence for murder
Start
To suddenly move or react.
He started in surprise when the alarm rang.
Begin
Not have any chance or likelihood of doing a specified thing
I can't begin to tell you how much I hate that commercial
Start
Begin or be reckoned from a particular point in time or space; come into being
We ate before the film started
The season starts in September
Below Roaring Springs the real desert starts
Begin
To perform or undergo the first part of an action; start
I began to email you but got interrupted. The rain began around noon.
Start
Cause to happen or begin
Those women started all the trouble
I'm starting a campaign to get the law changed
Two men started the blaze
Begin
To come into being
When life began.
Start
Jerk or give a small jump from surprise or alarm
‘Oh my!’ she said, starting
Begin
To do or accomplish something in the least degree. Used in the negative with an infinitive
Those measures do not even begin to address the problem.
Start
The point in time or space at which something has its origin; the beginning
The event was a shambles from start to finish
He takes over as chief executive at the start of next year
His bicycle was found close to the start of a forest trail
Begin
To say as the first in a series of remarks
"I didn't like the movie," he began.
Start
A sudden movement of surprise or alarm
She awoke with a start
The woman gave a nervous start
Begin
To have as a first element or part
The play begins with a monologue.
Start
To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking
She started to dance. The dog started barking. Once we start in, we'll get a feel for the project.
Begin
To have as the lowest price in a range
Those shirts begin at $20.
Start
To move on the initial part of a journey
They started for the summit.
Begin
To have as a first position, stage, or job
The restaurant began as a ice-cream parlor. The principal began as a math teacher.
Start
To have a beginning; commence
The movie starts at nine.
Begin
To take the first step in doing; start
Began work.
Start
To come quickly into view, life, or activity; spring forth
The boy's tears started when the balloon popped.
Begin
To cause to come into being; originate
An invention that began a new era.
Start
To have as an initial part or job
I started as an assistant.
Begin
To come first in (a series, for instance)
The numeral 1 begins the sequence.
Start
To move one's body or a part of it suddenly or involuntarily
Started at the loud noise.
Begin
(ambitransitive) To start, to initiate or take the first step into something.
I began playing the piano at the age of five.
Now that everyone is here, we should begin the presentation.
Start
(Sports) To be in the initial lineup of a game or race.
Begin
(intransitive) To be in the first stage of some situation
The program begins at 9 o'clock on the dot.
I rushed to get to class on time, but the lesson had already begun.
Start
To protrude or bulge
Eyes that fairly started from their sockets in fear.
Begin
(intransitive) To come into existence.
Start
To become loosened or disengaged.
Begin
(nonstandard) Beginning; start.
Start
To take the first step in doing
We start work at dawn.
Begin
To have or commence an independent or first existence; to take rise; to commence.
Vast chain of being! which from God began.
Start
To cause to come into being; make happen or originate
Bad wiring started the fire. The website started the rumor.
Begin
To do the first act or the first part of an action; to enter upon or commence something new, as a new form or state of being, or course of action; to take the first step; to start.
When I begin, I will also make an end.
Start
To set into motion, operation, or activity
Start an engine.
A shot that started the race.
Begin
To enter on; to commence.
Ye nymphs of Solyma ! begin the song.
Start
To begin to attend
Start school.
Begin
To trace or lay the foundation of; to make or place a beginning of.
The apostle begins our knowledge in the creatures, which leads us to the knowledge of God.
Start
To cause (someone) to have an initial position or role
The manager started him in marketing.
Begin
Beginning.
Start
To play in the initial lineup of (a game).
Begin
Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
Start
To put (a player) into the initial lineup of a game.
Begin
Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action;
We began working at dawn
Who will start?
Get working as soon as the sun rises!
The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia
He began early in the day
Let's get down to work now
Start
To enter (a participant) into a race or game.
Begin
Have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense;
The DMZ begins right over the hill
The second movement begins after the Allegro
Prices for these homes start at $250,000
Start
To found; establish
Start a business.
Begin
Set in motion, cause to start;
The U.S. started a war in the Middle East
The Iraqis began hostilities
Begin a new chapter in your life
Start
To tend in an early stage of development
Start seedlings.
Begin
Begin to speak or say;
Now listen, friends,
Start
To rouse (game) from its hiding place or lair; flush.
Begin
Be the first item or point, constitute the beginning or start, come first in a series;
The number 'one' begins the sequence
A terrible murder begins the novel
The convocation ceremoney officially begins the semester
Start
To cause to become displaced or loosened.
Begin
Have a beginning, of a temporal event;
WWII began in 1939 when Hitler marched into Poland
The company's Asia tour begins next month
Start
An act of beginning; an initial effort
I made a start on keeping a journal.
Begin
Have a beginning characterized in some specified way;
The novel begins with a murder
My property begins with the three maple trees
Her day begins with a work-out
The semester begins with a convocation ceremony
Start
The beginning of a new construction project
An application for a building start.
Begin
Begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object;
Begin a cigar
She started the soup while it was still hot
We started physics in 10th grade
Start
A result of an initial effort
What we did may not sound like much, but it's a start.
Begin
Achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative;
This economic measure doesn't even begin to deal with the problem of inflation
You cannot even begin to understand the problem we had to deal with during the war
Start
A place or time of beginning
At the start of the decade.
Begin
Begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language;
She began Russian at an early age
We started French in fourth grade
Start
A starting line for a race.
Begin
To start a process or activity.
They begin their journey at dawn.
Start
A signal to begin a race.
Begin
To take the first step in a process.
We will begin the meeting with introductions.
Start
An instance of beginning a race
A sprinter who improved her start.
Begin
To embark upon a course of action.
She decided to begin learning Spanish.
Start
An instance of being in the starting lineup for a game, especially as a pitcher
In five starts, he has three wins.
Start
A startled reaction or movement.
Start
A part that has become dislocated or loosened.
Start
A position of advantage over others, as in a race or an endeavor; a lead
Our rivals have a three-month start in research.
Start
An opportunity granted to pursue a career or course of action.
Start
The beginning of an activity.
The movie was entertaining from start to finish.
Start
A sudden involuntary movement.
He woke with a start.
Start
The beginning point of a race, a board game, etc.
Captured pieces are returned to the start of the board.
Start
An appearance in a sports game, horserace, etc., from the beginning of the event.
Jones has been a substitute before, but made his first start for the team last Sunday.
Start
(horticulture) A young plant germinated in a pot to be transplanted later.
Start
An initial advantage over somebody else; a head start.
To get, or have, the start
Start
A happening or proceeding.
Start
An instance of starting.
Start
A projection or protrusion; that which pokes out.
Start
A handle, especially that of a plough.
Start
The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water wheel bucket.
Start
The arm, or level, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.
Start
(transitive) To begin, commence, initiate.
Start
To set in motion.
To start a stream of water;
To start a rumour;
To start a business
Start
To begin.
Start
To ready the operation of a vehicle or machine.
To start the engine
Start
To put or raise (a question, an objection); to put forward (a subject for discussion).
Start
To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent.
Start
(intransitive) To begin an activity.
The rain started at 9:00.
Start
(intransitive) To have its origin (at), begin.
The speed limit is 50 km/h, starting at the edge of town.
The blue line starts one foot away from the wall.
Start
To startle or be startled; to move or be moved suddenly.
Start
(intransitive) To jerk suddenly in surprise.
Start
(intransitive) To awaken suddenly.
Start
(transitive) To disturb and cause to move suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly.
The hounds started a fox.
Start
(intransitive) To flinch or draw back.
Start
(transitive) To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate.
To start a bone;
The storm started the bolts in the vessel
Start
(intransitive) To break away, to come loose.
Start
To put into play.
Start
To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from.
To start a water cask
Start
To start one's periods (menstruation).
Have you started yet?
Start
To leap; to jump.
Start
To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act.
And maketh him out of his sleep to start.
I start as from some dreadful dream.
Keep your soul to the work when ready to start aside.
But if he start,It is the flesh of a corrupted heart.
Start
To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start in business.
At once they start, advancing in a line.
At intervals some bird from out the brakesStarts into voice a moment, then is still.
Start
To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure.
Start
To cause to move suddenly; to disturb suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly; as, the hounds started a fox.
Upon malicious bravery dost thou comeTo start my quiet?
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.
Start
To bring into being or into view; to originate; to invent.
Sensual men agree in the pursuit of every pleasure they can start.
Start
To cause to move or act; to set going, running, or flowing; as, to start a railway train; to start a mill; to start a stream of water; to start a rumor; to start a business.
I was engaged in conversation upon a subject which the people love to start in discourse.
Start
To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate; as, to start a bone; the storm started the bolts in the vessel.
One, by a fall in wrestling, started the end of the clavicle from the sternum.
Start
To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from; as, to start a water cask.
Start
The act of starting; a sudden spring, leap, or motion, caused by surprise, fear, pain, or the like; any sudden motion, or beginning of motion.
The fright awakened Arcite with a start.
Start
A convulsive motion, twitch, or spasm; a spasmodic effort.
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
Nature does nothing by starts and leaps, or in a hurry.
Start
A sudden, unexpected movement; a sudden and capricious impulse; a sally; as, starts of fancy.
To check the starts and sallies of the soul.
Start
The beginning, as of a journey or a course of action; first motion from a place; act of setting out; the outset; - opposed to finish.
The start of first performance is all.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,Straining upon the start.
At a start he was betwixt them two.
Start
A tail, or anything projecting like a tail.
Start
The handle, or tail, of a plow; also, any long handle.
Start
The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water-wheel bucket.
Start
The arm, or lever, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.
Start
A Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union which provided for stepwise reductions in the number of nuclear weapons possessed by each country.
Start
The beginning of anything;
It was off to a good start
Start
The time at which something is supposed to begin;
They got an early start
She knew from the get-go that he was the man for her
Start
A turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning);
He got his start because one of the regular pitchers was in the hospital
His starting meant that the coach thought he was one of their best linemen
Start
A sudden involuntary movement;
He awoke with a start
Start
The act of starting something;
He was responsible for the beginning of negotiations
Start
A line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game
Start
A signal to begin (as in a race);
The starting signal was a green light
The runners awaited the start
Start
Advantage gained by an early start as in a race;
With an hour's start he will be hard to catch
Start
Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action;
We began working at dawn
Who will start?
Get working as soon as the sun rises!
The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia
He began early in the day
Let's get down to work now
Start
Set in motion, cause to start;
The U.S. started a war in the Middle East
The Iraqis began hostilities
Begin a new chapter in your life
Start
Leave;
The family took off for Florida
Start
Have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense;
The DMZ begins right over the hill
The second movement begins after the Allegro
Prices for these homes start at $250,000
Start
Bring into being;
He initiated a new program
Start a foundation
Start
Get off the ground;
Who started this company?
We embarked on an exciting enterprise
I start my day with a good breakfast
We began the new semester
The afternoon session begins at 4 PM
The blood shed started when the partisans launched a surprise attack
Start
Move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm;
She startled when I walked into the room
Start
Get going or set in motion;
We simply could not start the engine
Start up the computer
Start
Begin or set in motion;
I start at eight in the morning
Ready, set, go!
Start
Begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job;
Take up a position
Start a new job
Start
Play in the starting line-up
Start
Have a beginning characterized in some specified way;
The novel begins with a murder
My property begins with the three maple trees
Her day begins with a work-out
The semester begins with a convocation ceremony
Start
Begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object;
Begin a cigar
She started the soup while it was still hot
We started physics in 10th grade
Start
To begin to move or operate.
The car wouldn't start this morning.
Common Curiosities
What is the primary meaning of "start"?
To initiate or commence something, often abruptly.
Is "start" more sudden than "begin"?
Generally, "start" implies more suddenness compared to "begin."
How is "begin" commonly used?
To indicate the onset of a process or activity, usually more gradual.
Can "start" and "begin" be used interchangeably?
In many contexts, yes, but subtle differences in connotation might make one more appropriate.
Can "start" imply a physical reaction?
Yes, like starting in surprise or fear.
Which is preferred in literary contexts, "start" or "begin"?
"Begin" is often preferred for its slightly more formal tone.
Does "begin" have a more formal tone than "start"?
"Begin" is often considered slightly more formal.
Is "start" suitable for abrupt beginnings?
Yes, it's commonly used for abrupt or immediate initiations.
Can "start" imply causing something to operate?
Yes, like starting a machine or vehicle.
Can "begin" refer to embarking on a course of action?
Yes, like beginning a new hobby or study.
Does "begin" suggest a deliberate action?
Yes, it often implies a more measured or deliberate initiation.
Is "begin" used in gradual processes?
Yes, it's commonly used for gradual or continuous activities.
In what context is "begin" less common?
In emotional or psychological reactions.
Which is more colloquial, "start" or "begin"?
"Start" is generally more colloquial.
Do "start" and "begin" differ significantly in meaning?
They are similar, but nuances in connotation and usage can make a subtle difference.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
