from scratch

phrase

1

: from a point at which nothing has been done ahead of time

build a school system from scratch

2

: without using a prepared mixture of ingredients

bake a cake from scratch

Examples of from scratch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Having more nuclear power to electrify its grid has long been an option for Georgia Power, which remains the only electric utility in the United States to build two reactors from scratch in decades. — Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 14 Sep. 2026

The rocket car designed by Dick Keller (Ed Helms) was built from scratch by production designer Jean-André Carrière. — Jennie Punter, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Designed by Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, founders of AD100 firm Roman and Williams, the original Owens house was constructed from scratch on San Juan Island in Washington and torn down immediately after filming. — Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026

This isn’t about starting a franchise from scratch with a fantasy draft. — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for from scratch

• attach
• bycatch
• despatch
• detach
• dispatch
• mismatch
• nuthatch
• potlatch
• bache
• batch
• brach
• catch