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

The Mustangs made it out of the airport before Arizona, but had the equivalent of a false start getting to Harbor Drive. —Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025

That false start can create long-term problems. —Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025

Before the next snap, Detroit was called for a false start, pushing the offense from the 1-yard line all the way back to the 15-yard line. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025

The Commanders stopped it on the first try and then left guard Landon Dickerson (allegedly) committed a false start on the second that backed the Eagles up to the 6. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 21 Dec. 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