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

The veteran stars had a long head start in their careers. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

Set Deals Get a head start on spring and summer entertaining by scoring the many deals available right now on patio sets from Amazon. —Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025

Over the past 10 years, the nonprofit Como Lion Hearts has helped thousands of children and youth get a head start on life. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Nov. 2025

Cotopaxi is one outdoor brand getting a head start on the holiday deals with more than 100 items in its sale section, all up to 50 percent off. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2025

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