start-up

noun

ˈstärt-ˌəp 

variants or startup

often attributive

1

: the act or an instance of setting in operation or motion

2

: a fledgling business enterprise

Examples of start-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After that, the two tinkered with a few start-up concepts, including one meant to help people surprise their friends with gifts—like wine at a restaurant. — Andrew Zucker, Vanity Fair, 14 Aug. 2026

However, the thing that Gallagher worked on early that made this start-up rather unique was an ERP system designed to be available from the get-go. — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Companies like Microsoft and Dell Technologies were conceived out of college dorm rooms, and billion-dollar AI start-ups like Scale AI and Cursor were built by Gen Zers. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026

Próspera is also one of the locations for partner clinics of Minicircle, another longevity start-up readying its own Klotho gene therapy. — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for start-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup