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

For the first time in its 157-year history, the Grand National steeplechase is declared void because of a false start. —Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025

In the race, a false start off the grid box handed him a five-second penalty, setting the tone for the rest of the grand prix which was more firefighting than front-running. —Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

But a false start on the play resulted in a five-second runoff, ending the game. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2025

The Eagles looked to have a touchdown via Tush Push on 4th-and-goal, but a false start penalty pushed them back five yards. —Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 20 Jan. 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