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

Punk rock would have come to Boston soon enough anyway, but maybe Peter Dayton gave it a head start. —Eric R. Danton, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026

There's nothing like a brand-new hair cut to signify a new chapter or kickstart a new season, and Jessica Chastain just got a head start on spring with her fresh chop. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 20 Apr. 2026

Cannabis, by contract, already has a multibillion-dollar adult-use industry across dozens of states, giving it a significant head start even as federal rescheduling remains unresolved. —Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026

Give the corn a head start of several weeks, sowing the beans once the corn has reached a height of 4 to 6 inches. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 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