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

Despite Novo's three-month head start, Club name Eli Lilly 's own obesity pill Foundayo should be a hit too. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 6 May 2026

To get a head start on the spring season, start cosmo seeds indoors about four to six weeks before the last frost. —Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 2 May 2026

But Miss Manners fears this might be the reason the poor lady is trying to get a head start — to prevent everyone from crowding her kitchen and breaking her china. —Judith Martin, Mercury News, 1 May 2026

South Florida’s climate gives that work a head start. —Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 29 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