head start

noun

Definition of head start

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

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

This hundred-year head start and expertise in water conservation and resource management will allow Arizona to maintain our position as a global leader. — Sandra Watson, President & Ceo, azcentral, "Next-Gen tech trends: The future of Arizona," 14 May 2018 The one-hour head start also is scheduled into last August. — Dewayne Bevil, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Disney: Toy Story Land's opening will extend days at Hollywood Studios," 17 Apr. 2018 Cameron Artis-Payne Carolina Panthers running back Cameron Artis-Payne (34) will get the first shot at the power-back job, and a head start on any rookie, after the departure of veteran Jonathan Stewart. — Jourdan Rodrigue, charlotteobserver, "6 Carolina Panthers players to watch as spring workouts begin | Charlotte Observer," 16 Apr. 2018 The country’s 2013 anti-corruption law provided a head start, as confidential reporting channels created to suss out fraud and graft have increasingly been used by harassment victims. — Bloomberg.com, "Trump Orders Commerce Department to Consider Probe on Auto Imports," 8 Mar. 2018 And actually, the anti-repeal forces have a head start, having banked nearly $12 million as opposed to a little over $3 million from the pro-Prop. — Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "The Bill for the Ballot Battle Over California Gas Tax Might Reach $75 Million," 9 July 2018 Mexico got a head start, levying penalties on imports from America, such as pork and bourbon. — The Economist, "Business this week," 7 June 2018 On this episode of Recode Media with Peter Kafka, Financial Times CEO John Ridding talks about the company’s decade-long head start in paid online subscriptions. — Recode Staff, Recode, "Full transcript: Financial Times CEO John Ridding on Recode Media," 10 Apr. 2018 The winner of the Fox assets will have a head start in the race to build an entertainment behemoth and respond to how the industry has been ravaged by consumers cutting the cable TV cord. — Keach Hagey, WSJ, "Two Titans’ Rocky Relationship Stands Between Comcast and Fox," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'head start.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about head start

Dictionary Entries near head start

Statistics for head start

Last Updated

2 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for head start

The first known use of head start was in 1859

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for head start

head start

noun

Kids Definition of head start

: an advantage given at the beginning (as to a school child or a runner)

Keep scrolling for more

Comments on head start

What made you want to look up head start? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

linchpin

one that holds something together

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Roman Mythology Quiz

Boreal comes from the name of the ancient Greek god of which wind?

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games