false start
noun
1
: a premature start (as of a race or football play)
2
: an unsuccessful attempt to begin something (such as a career)
Examples of false start in a Sentence
If someone makes a false start, the race is immediately stopped and the runners have to start again.
After several false starts, the researchers were finally able to identify the virus causing the epidemic.
Recent Examples on the Web
Broncos ball inside the Seattle 10-yard line, but a false start moves them back right off the bat.
—
Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2024
The Jets committed five false start penalties in a loss to the Denver Broncos.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024
The offense was flagged for five pre-snap false start penalties.
—Jeff Faraudo, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2024
The away fans helped force four false start penalties on the Chargers in the first half.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for false start 
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Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2024
The Jets committed five false start penalties in a loss to the Denver Broncos.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024
The offense was flagged for five pre-snap false start penalties.
—Jeff Faraudo, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2024
The away fans helped force four false start penalties on the Chargers in the first half.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for false start
Dictionary Entries Near false start
Cite this Entry
“False start.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/false%20start. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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