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

In this movie, Roy Cohn starts out strong and his health and strength decline throughout. —Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2024

This year's honorees range from countries, airlines, and tech giants to startups, small nonprofits, and even a handful of operations that started out as one-person shows. —Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2024

What started out as a novelty race is now a surprisingly popular way of testing your limits—which makes the format intriguing to scientists seeking to understand what defines those limits. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 4 Nov. 2024

Well, my guessing game started out fire today and then collapsed into tragedy. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024