false start

noun

1

: a premature start (as of a race or football play)

2

: an unsuccessful attempt to begin something (such as a career)

Examples of false start in a Sentence

If someone makes a false start, the race is immediately stopped and the runners have to start again.

After several false starts, the researchers were finally able to identify the virus causing the epidemic.

Recent Examples on the Web

During one training camp practice, Daniels sent one of his receivers off the field after a false start penalty, then turned to the coaches on the sideline to send in someone else. —Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025

After taking two would-be sacks and backing up on a false start, Maye and the Patriots’ starting offense salvaged a disastrous one-minute drill with a deep jump ball to Kayshon Boutte. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025

The Dolphins then committed a false start penalty; there have been too many of those during this training camp.... —C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025

Officials threw a flag as Davis received the snap, indicating a false start penalty. —Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for false start

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