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Dictionary.com

starting point

NOUN
base
Synonyms
STRONGEST
camp center depot field garrison home port post settlement site station terminal
STRONG
dock hangar harbor strip
Antonyms
WEAK
annex branch top
NOUN
beginning
Synonyms
STRONGEST
birth creation dawn inauguration inception introduction onset opening outset top
STRONG
alpha basis blastoff commencement dawning genesis induction infancy initiation installation kickoff opener origin origination preface prelude presentation rise root rudiment source spring takeoff threshold
WEAK
day one point of departure square one
Antonyms
STRONGEST
conclusion death end ending finish
STRONG
close completion effect epilogue finale result termination
WEAK
consummation goal outcome
NOUN
commencement
Synonyms
STRONGEST
convocation dawning graduation initiation kickoff onset outset
STRONG
admission alpha birth bow celebration countdown dawn genesis opener opening services start
WEAK
curtain-raiser proem tee off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
conclusion end ending finish
STRONG
death
WEAK
cessation completion stop
NOUN
hypothesis
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assumption axiom conclusion conjecture explanation guess inference interpretation premise proposition rationale supposition theorem thesis
STRONG
antecedent assignment attribution basis belief condition data deduction demonstration derivation foundation ground layout lemma philosophy plan position postulate presupposition principle proposal reason scheme speculation suggestion surmise system term
WEAK
apriority shot in the dark tentative law
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fact proof reality truth
WEAK
calcualtion measurement
NOUN
incipience
Synonyms
STRONG
alpha basis birth blastoff commencement creation dawn dawning genesis inauguration inception incipiency induction infancy initiation installation introduction kickoff launch onset opener opening origin origination outset preface prelude presentation rise root rudiment source spring start takeoff threshold top
WEAK
day one leadoff point of departure square one
Antonyms
STRONG
close completion conclusion death effect end ending epilogue finale finish result stop termination
NOUN
incipiency
Synonyms
STRONG
alpha basis birth blastoff commencement creation dawn dawning genesis inauguration inception incipience induction infancy initiation installation introduction kickoff launch onset opener opening origin origination outset preface prelude presentation rise root rudiment source spring start takeoff threshold top
WEAK
day one leadoff point of departure square one
Antonyms
STRONG
close completion conclusion death effect end ending epilogue finale finish result stop termination
NOUN
leadoff
Synonyms
WEAK
alpha basis birth blastoff commencement creation dawn dawning day one genesis inauguration inception incipience incipiency induction infancy initiation installation introduction kickoff launch onset opener opening origin origination outset point of departure preface prelude presentation rise root rudiment source spring square one start takeoff threshold top
NOUN
origin
Synonyms
STRONGEST
birth genesis
STRONG
alpha commencement creation dawn dawning embarkation emergence entrance entry forging foundation inauguration ingress initiation introduction launch nativity opener origination outbreak outset rise start
WEAK
blast off day one early stage git go square one
Antonyms
STRONGEST
conclusion end finish
STRONG
close completion death ending exit stop
WEAK
consequence destiny effect finale goal outcome outgrowth result termination
NOUN
origination
Synonyms
STRONG
beginning birth commencement conception creation dawn dawning discovery genesis innovation introduction launch source start
Antonyms
STRONG
completion conclusion death end ending finish result stop
NOUN
root
Synonyms
STRONGEST
essence foundation heart origin seed soul source stem stuff
STRONG
basis bedrock beginnings bottom cause center crux derivation essentiality footing fountain fountainhead fundamental germ ground groundwork inception infrastructure mainspring marrow motive nub nucleus occasion pith provenance provenience quick quintessence radicle radix reason rhizome seat substance substratum tuber underpinning well
WEAK
rock bottom
Antonyms
STRONGEST
effect end result
STRONG
conclusion consequence exterior exteriority extra outgrowth outside trivia
WEAK
derivation derivative sprout
NOUN
source
Synonyms
STRONGEST
authority cause expert origin
STRONG
antecedent author authorship begetter birthplace commencement connection dawn dawning derivation determinant father fount fountain fountainhead inception informant maternity mother onset opening origination originator parent paternity provenance provenience rise rising root specialist spring start wellspring
WEAK
horse's mouth
Antonyms
STRONGEST
consequence effect end outcome outgrowth result
STRONG
completion conclusion ending finish stop
NOUN
threshold
Synonyms
STRONGEST
brink verge
STRONG
dawn door doorstep doorway edge entrance gate inception origin outset point sill start vestibule
WEAK
point of departure
Antonyms
STRONGEST
middle
STRONG
completion conclusion death disadvantage end ending finish

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Compared with 2022, “the starting point is more benign,” said Mansoor Mohi-uddin, chief macro strategist at the Bank of Singapore, a private bank.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

This is just a starting point that can help you better decide where your money should go.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

That became "the starting point for our family", she says.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Picking up her scent from a pillow, K-9 Naji tracked a starting point.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

English was the natural starting point, but in what order should I bring up the others?

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker