start

To begin, commence, initiate. To set in motion.

How to use

The verb 'start' is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to indicate the beginning of an action, process, or event. A notable grammatical nuance is that 'start' can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, although the gerund is more commonly used when the subject of the sentence performs the action, as in 'She started singing.' However, learners should be cautious not to confuse 'start' with 'begin' in terms of usage with gerunds and infinitives, as 'begin' more frequently takes an infinitive, especially in formal writing.