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

Morgan, as Dinkins, is a colleague and eventually friend of a dweeby little documentarian played by Daniel Radcliffe, who starts out as the straight man and then inexorably becomes just as weird as everyone else in this show. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 2026

With Innovative since 2022, Biancardi started out in the agency’s mailroom before beginning to work directly for Abby Bluestone in the talent department. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 May 2026

On the mound, the Yankees got another solid start out of Ryan Weathers, who allowed three runs but only one earned over five innings. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026

The thought of starting out again on my own is frightening. —R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026

Rhymes for start out

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