Start vs. Starting — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 23, 2024
"Start" primarily functions as a verb denoting the act of beginning something, while "starting" is the gerund or present participle form, used to describe the action of beginning or to modify nouns.
Difference Between Start and Starting
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Key Differences
"Start" is used to indicate the initiation of an action or event. It implies the point at which something begins or comes into existence. For example, one might say, "I will start my new job on Monday." Whereas "starting" functions differently in sentences, often used as a gerund (noun form) or as an adjective to describe ongoing processes, such as in, "Starting a new book can be exciting."
When "start" is used as a noun, it typically refers to the point in time or space at which something starts, like "the start of the race." On the other hand, "starting" as a noun focuses on the action itself, often used in sports or other contexts, e.g., "He improved his starting technique."
"Start" can also be an imperative, giving a command to begin something immediately, as in "Start the engine!" Conversely, "starting" cannot be used in this imperative form and instead appears in continuous tenses or descriptions, like "He is starting to understand the rules."
In verbal form, "start" can be conjugated to fit different tenses and subjects, such as "starts," "started," or "will start." Whereas "starting" is already a participle form, used with auxiliary verbs to indicate continuous or progressive aspects, such as in "She is starting to learn French."
The use of "start" often denotes a singular, decisive action. For instance, "She decided to start a blog." Meanwhile, "starting" might suggest a process or sequence of actions, indicating the beginning of ongoing activities, as seen in "Starting your own business requires careful planning."
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb, Noun
Gerund, Present Participle
Usage in Sentence
Initiates action
Describes ongoing action
Tense & Form
Various tenses
Only present continuous form
Example Usage
"I will start."
"I am starting."
Function
Command, Action
Process, Description
Compare with Definitions
Start
To begin an activity or process.
I start my day with a cup of coffee.
Starting
Referring to the initiation or beginning of an action.
Starting early can help you avoid traffic.
Start
To initiate the operation of a machine or vehicle.
Start the car, please.
Starting
The act of beginning a process or event.
Starting the meeting on time is crucial.
Start
The point or moment at which an event begins.
The start of the movie was thrilling.
Starting
Used to describe something that begins a sequence.
Starting next week, the office hours will change.
Start
To cause something to happen or come into being.
Loud noises can start an avalanche.
Starting
Indicative of the early stages of something.
The starting symptoms of the disease are mild.
Start
To commence a journey or trip.
We start our trek at dawn.
Starting
Involving the initial phase of a process.
He's in the starting lineup for today's game.
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
Starting
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.
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
Starting
To move on the initial part of a journey
They started for the summit.
Start
Jerk or give a small jump from surprise or alarm
‘Oh my!’ she said, starting
Starting
To have a beginning; commence
The movie starts at nine.
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
Starting
To come quickly into view, life, or activity; spring forth
The boy's tears started when the balloon popped.
Start
A sudden movement of surprise or alarm
She awoke with a start
The woman gave a nervous start
Starting
To have as an initial part or job
I started as an assistant.
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.
Starting
To move one's body or a part of it suddenly or involuntarily
Started at the loud noise.
Start
To move on the initial part of a journey
They started for the summit.
Starting
(Sports) To be in the initial lineup of a game or race.
Start
To have a beginning; commence
The movie starts at nine.
Starting
To protrude or bulge
Eyes that fairly started from their sockets in fear.
Start
To come quickly into view, life, or activity; spring forth
The boy's tears started when the balloon popped.
Starting
To become loosened or disengaged.
Start
To have as an initial part or job
I started as an assistant.
Starting
To take the first step in doing
We start work at dawn.
Start
To move one's body or a part of it suddenly or involuntarily
Started at the loud noise.
Starting
To cause to come into being; make happen or originate
Bad wiring started the fire. The website started the rumor.
Start
(Sports) To be in the initial lineup of a game or race.
Starting
To set into motion, operation, or activity
Start an engine.
A shot that started the race.
Start
To protrude or bulge
Eyes that fairly started from their sockets in fear.
Starting
To begin to attend
Start school.
Start
To become loosened or disengaged.
Starting
To cause (someone) to have an initial position or role
The manager started him in marketing.
Start
To take the first step in doing
We start work at dawn.
Starting
To play in the initial lineup of (a game).
Start
To cause to come into being; make happen or originate
Bad wiring started the fire. The website started the rumor.
Starting
To put (a player) into the initial lineup of a game.
Start
To set into motion, operation, or activity
Start an engine.
A shot that started the race.
Starting
To enter (a participant) into a race or game.
Start
To begin to attend
Start school.
Starting
To found; establish
Start a business.
Start
To cause (someone) to have an initial position or role
The manager started him in marketing.
Starting
To tend in an early stage of development
Start seedlings.
Start
To play in the initial lineup of (a game).
Starting
To rouse (game) from its hiding place or lair; flush.
Start
To put (a player) into the initial lineup of a game.
Starting
To cause to become displaced or loosened.
Start
To enter (a participant) into a race or game.
Starting
An act of beginning; an initial effort
I made a start on keeping a journal.
Start
To found; establish
Start a business.
Starting
The beginning of a new construction project
An application for a building start.
Start
To tend in an early stage of development
Start seedlings.
Starting
A result of an initial effort
What we did may not sound like much, but it's a start.
Start
To rouse (game) from its hiding place or lair; flush.
Starting
A place or time of beginning
At the start of the decade.
Start
To cause to become displaced or loosened.
Starting
A starting line for a race.
Start
An act of beginning; an initial effort
I made a start on keeping a journal.
Starting
A signal to begin a race.
Start
The beginning of a new construction project
An application for a building start.
Starting
An instance of beginning a race
A sprinter who improved her start.
Start
A result of an initial effort
What we did may not sound like much, but it's a start.
Starting
An instance of being in the starting lineup for a game, especially as a pitcher
In five starts, he has three wins.
Start
A place or time of beginning
At the start of the decade.
Starting
A startled reaction or movement.
Start
A starting line for a race.
Starting
A part that has become dislocated or loosened.
Start
A signal to begin a race.
Starting
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 instance of beginning a race
A sprinter who improved her start.
Starting
An opportunity granted to pursue a career or course of action.
Start
An instance of being in the starting lineup for a game, especially as a pitcher
In five starts, he has three wins.
Starting
Present participle of start#Verb
Start
A startled reaction or movement.
Starting
The act of something that starts.
Constant startings and stoppings
Start
A part that has become dislocated or loosened.
Starting
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 position of advantage over others, as in a race or an endeavor; a lead
Our rivals have a three-month start in research.
Starting
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear;
With eyes starting from their sockets
Start
An opportunity granted to pursue a career or course of action.
Starting
Appropriate to the beginning or start of an event;
The starting point
Hands in the starting position
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
Common Curiosities
Can "start" and "starting" be used interchangeably?
No, they serve different grammatical purposes and are used in different contexts within a sentence.
How is "starting" used differently from "start"?
"Starting" is used as a gerund or present participle, focusing on the ongoing process or action of beginning.
What are common contexts for using "start"?
"Start" is commonly used to initiate activities, operate machines, or mark the beginning of events.
What is the primary function of "start" in a sentence?
"Start" functions as a verb to indicate the beginning of an action or as a noun to denote the point at which something begins.
Can "starting" be used to describe a state?
Yes, it can describe the state of beginning or the conditions at the start of a process.
What does "starting" imply in terms of action?
"Starting" often implies an ongoing process or the early phase of an activity.
How does "start" function in imperative sentences?
In imperative sentences, "start" acts as a command to initiate an action immediately.
Are there any idiomatic expressions involving "start"?
Yes, expressions like "get a head start" or "start from scratch" are common.
Is "starting" ever used as a standalone verb?
No, it is used with auxiliary verbs to form continuous tenses or as a noun in sports contexts.
What is a common mistake when using "start" and "starting"?
A common mistake is using "starting" in place of "start" in simple past or future tenses.
How does the usage of "start" vary in different English dialects?
Usage is generally consistent across dialects, though colloquial expressions and idiomatic uses may vary.
How do "start" and "starting" differ in terms of grammatical complexity?
"Start" can be more straightforward as a verb or noun, while "starting" involves more complex grammatical structures as a participle or gerund.
What role does "starting" play in continuous tense structures?
It functions to express the ongoing nature of an action, particularly in present continuous tense.
Can "start" be used as a noun to describe a location?
Yes, it can refer to a specific point where something begins, like "the start of a race."
What are some synonyms for "start" and "starting"?
Synonyms include "begin," "commence," "initiate" for "start," and "beginning," "commencing" for "starting."
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
