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

The 16 victims who died in the Accurate Energetic Systems explosion, leaving the greater Bucksnort community in Hickman and Humphreys Counties devastated, spanned generations, with some nearing the end of decades-long careers while others were just starting out in life. —Nicole Young, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2025

Some of the world’s most prominent business leaders started out in customer-facing roles. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025

The start of the 2025 season was a grueling one for the Aces, starting out 14-14 before winning their last 16 regular season games. —Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025

The ‘gentle giant’ from Swansea had started out in defence and played there for Leeds as a teenager. —Michael Walker, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for start out

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