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 first tush push notably appeared to include a false start on left guard Tyler Steen. —Evan Bell, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025

Replays appeared to show multiple Eagles linemen moving before the snap, indicating a false start. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2025

After getting to the SMU 25, TCU was flagged for a false start, and then Hoover couldn’t connect with Jordan Dwyer on what would’ve been a first down. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Sep. 2025

After getting flagged for a false start on a two-point attempt, the Dolphins settled for an extra point to cut the Patriots’ lead to 15-14. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 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