start-up

noun

ˈstärt-ˌəp 

variants or startup

often attributive

1

: the act or an instance of setting in operation or motion

2

: a fledgling business enterprise

Examples of start-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Deep Tech is a broad term used for start-ups in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, drones and space tech. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

OpenAI has been investigating agents’ use of internet access since the breach of AI start-up Hugging Face in July. — Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Lamont highlighted the tax credit by visiting a start-up business in Hartford and drew parallels to its owner, TJ Noel-Sullivan of the Hartford Film Company on Arbor Street. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026

The materials start-up has collaborated with Collina Strada and Stella McCartney, both Climate Pledge signatories. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for start-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup