start-up

noun

ˈstärt-ˌəp 

variants or startup

often attributive

1

: the act or an instance of setting in operation or motion

2

: a fledgling business enterprise

Examples of start-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

No other arms manufacturer in Ukraine, let alone a start-up, has had nearly the same success. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Due to changes to securities laws a decade ago, start-ups valued in the billions now routinely travel this route, with that funding capacity giving Instrinsic a chance to make a legitimate run at Letterboxd. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 July 2026

One founder, Aaron Sneed, told me he’s created a council of AI agents that helps with everything from human resources to accounting for his defense-tech start-up, saving him over 20 hours a week. — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 14 July 2026

Still, Wan hopes for a breakthrough as more start-ups and research groups try their hand at MCB. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for start-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup