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.

He almost had to start again from scratch.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

The study has drawn attention because lubiprostone is already an approved medication for chronic constipation, potentially making future clinical use faster than developing a completely new drug from scratch.

From Science Daily • May 8, 2026

His wife embraced a DIY renaissance in retirement, engaging in fixing, foraging and creating from scratch.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

Where records no longer exist, such as with Some Mother's Son, Grimstead says the only option is to rebuild the investigation from scratch.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Store-bought ice cream is cheap, but for Felicia, making ice cream from scratch is part of the ritual that began after her husband left in 1966.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

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