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Glite Dictionary
to start without me

to start without me

9 4.5
Tell others to begin without you when you are late
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : comenzar sin mí
  • Don't start without me.
  • go ahead and start without me
  • start without me, go

Examples

Synonyms

to start without
vsto start without me
28 4.8

To begin an activity or meeting before someone arrives

asks others to begin because the speaker will not be present
to get the ball rolling
vsto start without me
16 2.8

To start a meeting or project by taking the first step

asks others to begin because the speaker will not be present
to lead off
vsto start without me
10 3.8

To start an event or activity, for example a speech

asks others to begin in the speaker's absence rather than acting first oneself

Antonyms

to wait
∞ 1.0

To stay in one place or delay action until something happens

Surface Forms

start without me infinitive
started without me past
started without me past participle
starting without me present participle
starts without me third person singular

Morphology

start + without + me

The phrase is directly and compositionally built from 'start' (begin), 'without' (in the absence of), and 'me' (the speaker), so its meaning—to begin an activity before I arrive—is immediately derivable from the constituents. This is a common, literal construction in English (and mirrors patterns in many other languages), so a B1 learner who knows the words would understand it.

Etymology

The phrase start without me shows a simple picture: you ask others to start while you are not there, 'before I arrive'. That's why it means 'begin an activity or event without me'.