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
The offseason started out hot, but has come to a bit of halt as of late.
—
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
The scene starts out with an upbeat tone, as Eddie Miller unpacks a birthday card from Jamie.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 14 Mar. 2025
While Bob goes on his own side quest, Linda and Teddy egg each other on, starting out with dyeing some beer green and moving on to coloring … everything — ketchup, mustard, fries, burgers.
—Marianne Eloise, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
For smaller groups or when just starting out, even a simple WhatsApp group can work wonders.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start out
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Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
The scene starts out with an upbeat tone, as Eddie Miller unpacks a birthday card from Jamie.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 14 Mar. 2025
While Bob goes on his own side quest, Linda and Teddy egg each other on, starting out with dyeing some beer green and moving on to coloring … everything — ketchup, mustard, fries, burgers.
—Marianne Eloise, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
For smaller groups or when just starting out, even a simple WhatsApp group can work wonders.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 13 Mar. 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 21 Mar. 2025.
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