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
Villa's Tacos is a true grassroots effort, started out of his grandma's house in 2018 before evolving into a pop-up, then a brick-and-mortar location, followed by two more.
—
Andrés Soto, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
Fieri started out as a restaurant manager before opening his first restaurant chain, Johnny Garlic's, throughout California as the '90s turned to the aughts.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
The festival started out over a decade ago on the Rachel Carson Bridge, but its footprint has only been growing.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Initially, the season started out great.
—Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for start out
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.
Andrés Soto, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
Fieri started out as a restaurant manager before opening his first restaurant chain, Johnny Garlic's, throughout California as the '90s turned to the aughts.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
The festival started out over a decade ago on the Rachel Carson Bridge, but its footprint has only been growing.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Initially, the season started out great.
—Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
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 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
