start out

verb

started out; starting out; starts out

1

: to begin in a specified way

He started out by introducing himself.

She started out at a slow jog.

The day started out hot and humid.

The story started out good, but I didn't like the ending.

She started out wanting to be a doctor but became a midwife instead.

—often + with

I started out with $100 but I have only $10 left.

Let's start out with some warm-up exercises.

2

: to have a specified quality, identity, job, etc., at the start

What started out as a simple idea has become an expensive and complicated project.

He started out in teaching before becoming a lawyer.

3

: to begin an important period in one's life or career

The couple is just starting out.

She started out on a career in teaching.

4

: to begin a trip

They started out in the early morning.

5

: to have a particular place as a beginning point

The parade starts out at the intersection of First and Main.

Examples of start out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The novel starts out on a highway, in a car that’s driving too fast. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026

Billionaire entrepreneur Jay Chaudhry put his livelihood on the line when first starting out as a serial founder. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 May 2026

Saturday started out a bit warm and sticky outside in North Texas, but there will be plenty of sunshine in the afternoon. —Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 9 May 2026

In interviews, many performers noted the supportive, collaborative atmosphere, in which musicians who were starting out in their careers learned from stars at the height of their popularity. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026

Rhymes for start out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout