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

Even with the head start, Kpler data shows India's crude oil imports from Russia probably aren't enough to offset the lack of supplies from the Middle East. —ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026

The Sierra case had a 1½ year head start on that lawsuit, but the Brooklyn case got to the finish line first. —Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026

The other guys get a little head start on you. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

Visitors are allowed entry onto Main Street before the park officially opens, which gives them a head start at being first in line at the most popular rides. —Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 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