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Synonyms

running start

American  

noun

  1. 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.

  2. an initial advantage in undertaking something; a head start.

    His background gave him a running start in business.
running start Idioms  

  1. An initial advantage, as in His background in biochemistry gave him a running start in the field of genetics. This expression alludes to track events such as the running broad jump, in which one begins moving before reaching the actual take-off point. [1920s] Also see under get off the ground.

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

The bank targeted this month so the new CEO could get a "running start" to begin in January, he said.

From Reuters • Oct. 26, 2023

Curling around in the backcourt, Edney got a running start as he took the inbounds pass from Cameron Dollar.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2023

And one of my favorite games was to make a running start and grab on to their outstretched arms to see how many pull-ups I could do before I’d drop back down and keep running.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

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.