running start
Americannoun
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Sports. a start, as in the hop, step, and jump or the running broad jump, in which a contestant begins moving before reaching the starting or take-off point.
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an initial advantage in undertaking something; a head start.
His background gave him a running start in business.
Etymology
Origin of running start
First recorded in 1925–30
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.
If he can deliver successful AI products before he departs, Cook can secure his legacy as one of the great tech executives, while giving his successor a running start.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025
If you're ready to try interval running, start small.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2025
She hopes that the city will invest in more long-term solutions to help local entrepreneurs get a running start.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2024
"Threads will be off to a running start as it is built upon the Instagram platform with its massive user base and if users adopt Threads, advertisers will be following closely behind."
From Reuters ● Jul. 6, 2023
Tock then backed up three steps and, with a running start, bounded through the window with all hi is passengers and began the long glide down.
From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
