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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dozens of start-ups are working on a new generation of smaller reactors meant to be cheaper than the hulking plants of old. Brad Plumer, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2025 The Swiss start-up FinalSpark is one of the pioneers in this field. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025 The density, which had vanished, is coming back because of start-ups that are looking for cheap real estate. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025 Sequoia Capital is an investor in Israeli tech start-up Kela, which is developing AI for the Israeli military. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for start-up

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of start-up was in 1845

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Start-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/start-up. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!