at the outset

Idioms  

1. Also, from the outset. At the start, from the start. For example, He wanted to explain his position from the outset, but there wasn't time, or At the outset the problem seemed simple, but then it became quite complicated. The noun outset is rarely heard today except in these phrases. [Mid-1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

at the outset

McVay said at the outset of training camp that the season would not be considered a success or a failure by whether the Rams win the Super Bowl.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

“It’s just the way that this business goes,” Adams said at the outset of training camp.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026

As Scott Kahan, director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness, puts it, expect confusion and hiccups at the outset.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Comcast said it expects the tax-free spin-off in approximately one year and that it will hold up to 19.9% of NBCUniversal at the outset.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

I recall once being asked at the outset of a trial to identify myself.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• initially
• originally