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
Fastvold, who is forty-four, started out as a child actor and dancer in Norway.
—
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The precipitation will mostly start out as a wet snow but begin to transition to a wintry mix or rain/snow mix through Tuesday morning.
—Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
The game starts out with exploration and resource building, but can quickly skew towards battles, depending on how aggressively it is played.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2025
What starts out as a dream gig in a beautiful house rapidly becomes a nightmare, as Nina goes from oddly demanding to downright unglued, making Millie question her own safety.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start out
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Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The precipitation will mostly start out as a wet snow but begin to transition to a wintry mix or rain/snow mix through Tuesday morning.
—Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
The game starts out with exploration and resource building, but can quickly skew towards battles, depending on how aggressively it is played.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2025
What starts out as a dream gig in a beautiful house rapidly becomes a nightmare, as Nina goes from oddly demanding to downright unglued, making Millie question her own safety.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Dec. 2025
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 28 Dec. 2025.
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