start out
phrasal 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 + withI 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
Zach Zien and Steven Segal started out five years ago as neighbors in Leucadia.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Things started out small between McLaurin and the Commanders with the veteran wideout opting not to partake in minicamp.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
The week started out with the U.S. on Sunday striking a trade deal with the European Union.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2025
Bieber started out as a child star, the kind of kid who’d show up on the VMAs red carpet with his pet snake named Johnson.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start out
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Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Things started out small between McLaurin and the Commanders with the veteran wideout opting not to partake in minicamp.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
The week started out with the U.S. on Sunday striking a trade deal with the European Union.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2025
Bieber started out as a child star, the kind of kid who’d show up on the VMAs red carpet with his pet snake named Johnson.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start out
Cite this Entry
“Start out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/start%20out. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
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