as in beginning
the point at which something begins
I wish you'd mentioned this problem at the outset
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Recent Examples of outset
Hale’s most salient skills got Stangel’s attention from the outset.
—
Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
At the outset, the court expressly rejected the argument that there was lesser constitutional protection because the law was designed to protect children.
—Erwin Chemerinsky, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
From the outset, our goal has been to bring meaningful, positive impact to the city through the transformative Bahia Mar redevelopment, paired with the CDD’s commitment to fund the offsite public improvements outlined in the interlocal agreement.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Arias and Rocchio are the favorites to patrol the middle infield at the season’s outset.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outset
Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
At the outset, the court expressly rejected the argument that there was lesser constitutional protection because the law was designed to protect children.
—Erwin Chemerinsky, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
From the outset, our goal has been to bring meaningful, positive impact to the city through the transformative Bahia Mar redevelopment, paired with the CDD’s commitment to fund the offsite public improvements outlined in the interlocal agreement.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Arias and Rocchio are the favorites to patrol the middle infield at the season’s outset.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outset
Noun
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In the picture, baby Elvis is wearing a battered but jaunty felt hat, the sunshine center of a family that also, at the beginning, had nothing.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The opening run of tracks is everything that critics have thrown at them from the beginning.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
Pitchfork,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The final event is the women’s 50-kilometer mass start.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
In franchise history, the most games in the leadoff spot by a hitter younger than 22 were Doerr’s 86 in 1937; Anthony’s 31 (27 starts) already rank fourth in franchise history.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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According to Powerball, the jackpot has been hit almost 200 times since the lottery's inception in 1992.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
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The foam slip-on, with its Swiss cheese-like cutouts and memeable sport mode strap, has been the Crocs flagship model since the brand’s inception in 2002 and makes up the biggest portion of its sales.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In just one week, a spectacular display of orbital mechanics will be visible to billions of people across the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, as Earth's shadow sweeps across the lunar disk, triggering the onset of an awe-inspiring 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
24 Feb. 2026
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Major Arctic wildland fires delay the onset of snow cover by five days, offshore wind farms in the northern Yellow Sea stabilize ecosystems, and microplastics inhibit oceanic carbon uptake.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The élite public and private universities are intentionally exclusionary, which is why seemingly every one of their commencement speakers talks about the assembled, in their caps and gowns, as the future leaders of America and the best of the best.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
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These are the tentative dates, as the actual commencement date of Ramadan 2026 depends on the sighting of the moon.—
Lianna Norman,
Florida Times-Union,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outset. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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