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 + 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

What started out as a thrifty practice has become an unofficial commandment of Southern kitchens—don't waste one drop of tasty bacon grease. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025

Lee started out in 1987 with one shop selling sundries in the port city of Klang and has grown it into a chain of 2,750 convenience stores, bigger than rival 7-Eleven in Malaysia, which had just under 2,700 as of December. —Yessar Rosendar, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

If Bennet wants to beat Weiser, starting out his campaign with a political power grab is not a good look. —The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2025

Romeo started out as part of a music group called The Emotions before going solo in the late 60s. —Marina Watts, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Rhymes for start out

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