start up
Britishverb
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to come or cause to come into being for the first time; originate
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(intr) to spring or jump suddenly from a position or place
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to set in or go into motion, activity, etc
he started up the engine
the orchestra started up
adjective
noun
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Begin to operate, especially a machine or engine, as in Start up the motor so we can get going . [First half of 1900s]
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Move suddenly or begin an activity, as in When the alarm rang I started up . [Early 1200s]
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Organize a new enterprise, as in Starting up a business requires considerable capital . [Second half of 1900s]
Explanation
A start-up is a brand new business. A typical start-up begins as a small team with a great idea working out of a home or coffee shop. A giant, well-funded company isn't a start-up — start-ups are entrepreneurial concepts with one or two founders that typically run on a small, shoestring budget. Starting a start-up, however, means you intend to grow it and make money. Shopify, Zappos, and AirBnB all began as start-ups. Many start-ups fail, and start-ups that end up valued at a billion dollars or more are so rare that they're known as unicorns.
Vocabulary lists containing start-up
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.
Olsi reckoned it would probably start up again in the autumn, though, regardless of those survey results.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
Car detailing doesn’t require credentials, and start up costs are minimal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
At trial, Musk told jurors that his AI start up xAI was small relative to OpenAI which is also expected to sell shares to the public imminently.
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
Carester is currently building a facility in Lacq, France, which is scheduled to start up in late 2026.
From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026
I hit the power button with my toes and waited for it to start up.
From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling
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.
