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

On Saturday, after a fourth-down false start penalty stunted the Rams’ first drive, Bennett threw his two best passes of the game during the next one. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026

After Colts quarterback Daniel Jones started the drive with a short completion to Downs, Indy’s offense stalled following an incomplete pass and false start. — James Boyd, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

That, plus a false start on 3rd-and-1, killed what was setting up to be another scoring drive for SHS. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026

Later, Nourzad’s false start pushed Harrison Butker’s field-goal attempt to 59 yards. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

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