start a meeting

Meaning

To begin an official gathering or discussion of people, usually at work, to discuss specific topics, share updates, or make decisions.

Examples

• Let's wait for John before we start a meeting.

  Let's wait for John before we start a meeting.

• The manager will start a meeting at exactly nine o'clock.

  The manager will start a meeting at exactly nine o'clock.

• I need to prepare my notes before we start a meeting.

  I need to prepare my notes before we start a meeting.

• We usually start a meeting with a quick update from each team.

  We usually start a meeting with a quick update from each team.

• Can we start a meeting now, or are we still waiting for the client?

  Can we start a meeting now, or are we still waiting for the client?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to open a meeting now.

  ✓ We need to start a meeting now.

  'Open' sounds overly formal or unnatural in daily business contexts; 'start' is the most common and natural verb.

• ✗ Let's start the meeting since ten minutes.

  ✓ Let's start the meeting in ten minutes.

  Use 'in' to indicate a future point in time when something will begin, not 'since'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We should ___________ as soon as the manager arrives.

  💡 Begin the business discussion.

  Show answer

  start a meeting

• I will ___________ by welcoming our new team members.

  💡 Begin the group discussion.

  Show answer

  start a meeting