Synonyms

from scratch

Idioms

From the very beginning, from the outset; from nothing. For example, I knew we'd have a problem from scratch. Similarly, to start from scratch means “to start from the very beginning,” as in After the business failed, they decided to reorganize and start from scratch. This term comes from racing, where a competitor starts from the line scratched into the ground (whereas others may start ahead with a handicap). [Mid-1800s] Also see from the ground up; from the word go.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

from scratch

In many cases, it is cheaper to update an existing game rather than create a new title from scratch.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

For some families, saving money means making something from scratch.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

Instead of starting from scratch, the immune system appears to reactivate an established inflammatory response.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

Then, she’ll start from scratch, asking what a patient is feeling and making clinical decisions from there.

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026

One person, starting from scratch, should redesign the whole of philosophy, including natural science.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023