flying start

noun

1
: a start in racing in which the participants are already moving when they cross the starting line or receive the starting signal
2
: a favorable start of something

Example Sentences

The meeting got off to a flying start. The restaurant made a flying start by filling up on opening night.
Recent Examples on the Web But challenges have prevented the railway from making a flying start with tourists. Duncan Forgan, CNN, 8 Nov. 2022 Just because shortstop Jordan Westburg hasn’t been off to a flying start in Bowie doesn’t take away from the season he’s put together in his first full year of professional baseball. Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, 31 Aug. 2021 Initially invite-only, Cache Cache was off to a flying start in February 2020, hosting everyone from footballers to Formula One drivers. Lela London, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Kupp got off to a flying start with 367 receiving yards and five touchdowns as Los Angeles opened the campaign 3-0. Michael Loré, Forbes, 8 June 2022 After a flying start, going 8-1 to open the campaign and raising expectations even higher, adversity hit, causing the Cavs to slightly stall out over the last few weeks. Chris Fedor, cleveland, 31 Jan. 2023 Kennedale’s defense did not get off to a flying start this season. Rick Kretzschmar, Dallas News, 26 Oct. 2022 The sci-fi epic film, which needs to make at least $2 billion to break even, isn’t relying on a flying start à la Marvel’s superhero movies. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 19 Dec. 2022 Nashville was off to a flying start in the fifth minute, as the team’s top scorer Mukhtar took the ball in the corner of the area, pushed to the right past FCD center back Jose Martinez and finished from what looked like an impossible angle. Dallas News, 21 Aug. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flying start.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flying start was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near flying start

Cite this Entry

“Flying start.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flying%20start. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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