# start

> English word · Noun · IPA /stɑːt/ · frequency rank #248

## Definitions
1. The beginning of an activity.
2. A sudden involuntary movement.
3. The beginning point of a race, a board game, etc.
4. An appearance in a sports game, horserace, etc., from the beginning of the event.
5. A young plant germinated in a pot to be transplanted later.
6. An initial advantage over somebody else; a head start.
7. A happening or proceeding.
8. Alternative letter-case form of Start (“a typical button for video games, originally used to start a game, now also often to pause or choose an option”)

## Etymology
From Middle English stert, from the verb sterten (“to start, startle”). See below.

## Easily confused with
- **STR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-str)
- **stay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stay)
- **stir** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stir)
- **stat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stat)
- **SWAT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-swat)
- **state** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-state)
- **story** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-story)
- **store** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-store)
- **storm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-storm)
- **stats** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stats)
- **stays** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stays)
- **stern** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stern)
- **stunt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stunt)
- **stint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stint)
- **stash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stash)
- **stout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stout)
- **swarm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-swarm)
- **strut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-strut)
- **stave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-stave)
- **strat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-strat)

## Common misspellings (7)
`satrt`, `sstart`, `starrt`, `startt`, `statr`, `sttart`, `tsart`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/start