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
Spaun started out as a walk-on at San Diego State in 2008.
—
Elise Devlin, New York Times, 17 June 2025
The hilly enclave on the east side of the city includes homes by the likes of Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, and Miller Fong, the celebrated designer who started out in architecture before moving on to furniture.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 June 2025
Plants start out small and with space between them.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
However, life in the royal spotlight didn't start out easily.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for start out
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Elise Devlin, New York Times, 17 June 2025
The hilly enclave on the east side of the city includes homes by the likes of Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, and Miller Fong, the celebrated designer who started out in architecture before moving on to furniture.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 June 2025
Plants start out small and with space between them.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
However, life in the royal spotlight didn't start out easily.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 13 June 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 1 Jul. 2025.
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