Below are the formal and polite equivalents (synonyms) of 'start' which you can use in your business or professional pieces of writing.

Commence Click to listen

A more formal way of saying 'start'.

'Stage two of the project will commence once we have approval from the owners of the company.'

Begin Click to listen

Means exactly the same as 'start', but sounds better when used in writing.

'The presentation will begin at 2 pm on Friday.'


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