head start

noun

1

: an advantage granted or achieved at the beginning of a race, a chase, or a competition

a 10-minute head start

2

: a favorable or promising beginning

took some extra classes to get a head start in college

Examples of head start in a Sentence

They gave me a five-minute head start.

She took some extra classes to get a head start in her career.

His natural athletic talent gave him a head start on his peers.

Recent Examples on the Web

With White on track to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, the Hornets had a head start in negotiating a new deal with him, giving them a significant advantage over any other potential suitors. — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026

This is the first time Amazon’s tentpole summer sale period has been bumped up from July to late June, so shoppers can get a head start on their pre-Euro Summer hauls and daily essentials restocks. — Alisa Rendor, Footwear News, 23 June 2026

Get a head start on your shopping now, and remember to keep checking back as more discounts are being added. — Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 22 June 2026

Players who want a head start and extra Ultimate Team fuel can justify the Deluxe, while the MVP Bundle is the obvious move for anyone buying Madden too. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for head start

• apart
• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart
• upstart

Kids Definition

head start

noun

1

: an advantage given to a contestant at the beginning of a race

a five-minute head start

2

: a favorable or promising beginning