head start

noun

Synonyms of head startnext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some teams are entering this new era with a head start. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2026 Shop our top picks from $15 to get a head start on spring cleaning with kitchen organizers to style your kitchen like a chef. Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026 The company’s Wegovy obesity pill has a head start compared with Lilly’s upcoming oral drug, orforglipron, which is expected to win approval from the Food and Drug Administration during the second quarter. Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026 One by one, members of the New York Yankees trickled into the club’s player development complex the past few weeks, eager to get a head start on spring training workouts. Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for head start

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of head start was in 1859

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Head start.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head%20start. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

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

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