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

The founders of Swiss start-up ZuriQ expect to play a big part in this revolution. — David Prosser, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

In a recent trial at Siemens’ electronics plant in Erlangen, a British start-up’s wheeled humanoid robot successfully handled warehouse crates using physical AI technology. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 28 July 2026

There’s now a critical-mineral start-up for every preferred brand of cowboy. — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 28 July 2026

Most of the credit for that belongs to the intricate clockwork of drone factories, start-ups, software developers, training academies, and military innovators that help keep the Ukrainian war machine running. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 24 July 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