head start

noun

1

: an advantage granted or achieved at the beginning of a race, a chase, or a competition

a 10-minute head start

2

: a favorable or promising beginning

took some extra classes to get a head start in college

Examples of head start in a Sentence

They gave me a five-minute head start.

She took some extra classes to get a head start in her career.

His natural athletic talent gave him a head start on his peers.

Recent Examples on the Web

For two more days, Old Navy is offering 50% off women's fashion, making now a great time to get a head start on fall trends without spending a fortune. — Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Harry apparently reached out to the Home Office in early August to get a head start on security for himself, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, five. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 8 Sep. 2026

Though the first Voyager launched has a 16-day, 9-million-mile head start, Voyager 1 will overtake its sister probe in November — flying a course that will bring it to an encounter with Jupiter in March 1979. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2026

Get a head start on the new season for less during West Elm’s Labor Day sale. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for head start

• apart
• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart
• upstart

Kids Definition

head start

noun

1

: an advantage given to a contestant at the beginning of a race

a five-minute head start

2

: a favorable or promising beginning