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 + 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
When starting out, Atlanta Track Club recommends participants be able run a mile in no more than 18-20 minutes.
—
Ajc Staff, AJC.com, 20 Apr. 2026
The shuttle started out as a standard bus, but hardly anyone used it.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026
Torre started out performing Friday’s opening night performance in the first act only.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for start out
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Ajc Staff, AJC.com, 20 Apr. 2026
The shuttle started out as a standard bus, but hardly anyone used it.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026
Torre started out performing Friday’s opening night performance in the first act only.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 2026.
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