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

The co-founders started out by trying to build a website but rapidly recognised that blockchain technologies, providing transparency and traceability, represented an opportunity to develop something more imaginative. —David Prosser, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Nearly everyone Coppola cast was just starting out but would go on to have long, successful careers. —Maggie Fremont, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2025

What started out as a humble educational, friendship-forward program has morphed into an award-winning television series that has garnered worldwide attention and acclaim. —Sarah Scott, Parents, 25 Mar. 2025

What started out as a perfect trifecta of toxic positivity has evolved into something of a hate triangle. —Dan Heching, CNN, 24 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for start out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout