starting on

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   Beginning to do or deal with a task, activity, or piece of work.

   Grammar: Takes an object: start on the report. Often used in the continuous form: I'm starting on my homework.

   Patterns

   • start on something
   • be starting on something

   I'm starting on my essay this evening.

   She started on the cleaning as soon as she got home.

   We should start on the new project next week.

2. 2verbtransitiveinformal

   Beginning to criticize or complain about someone, often repeatedly.

   Grammar: Takes a person as object: start on someone. This use is informal and often shows annoyance.

   Patterns

   • start on someone
   • be starting on someone

   Don't start on me about my messy room again!

   He started on his brother for being late.

   She's always starting on her husband for not helping enough.

Word forms

Common combinations

start on a task

Let's start on the accounts before lunch.

start on a project

They started on the new building last month.

start on someone

The boss started on him for arriving late again.

start on the cleaning

I'll start on the cleaning after breakfast.

Synonyms and how they differ

begin

A more general verb meaning to start; it can be used with or without an object, while 'start on' always needs an object.

commence

A formal word meaning to begin; it is used in official contexts and does not take 'on'.

Opposites

Word family

start verb

To begin doing something.

start noun

The beginning of something.

Commonly confused: starting on or start in on?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “starting on”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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