start up

British  

verb

1. to come or cause to come into being for the first time; originate

2. (intr) to spring or jump suddenly from a position or place

3. to set in or go into motion, activity, etc

   he started up the engine

   the orchestra started up

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adjective

1. of or relating to input, usually financial, made to establish a new project or business

   a start-up mortgage

noun

1. a business enterprise that has been launched recently

start up Idioms  

1. Begin to operate, especially a machine or engine, as in Start up the motor so we can get going . [First half of 1900s]

2. Move suddenly or begin an activity, as in When the alarm rang I started up . [Early 1200s]

3. Organize a new enterprise, as in Starting up a business requires considerable capital . [Second half of 1900s]

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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.

Example Sentences

Then there’s the fact that with earnings season mostly wrapped up, there’s nothing likely to move earnings estimates over the next month or so–geopolitics aside–until conferences start up and executives’ windows for commentary open again.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

So start up your Oscar pools and read on for final Oscar predictions.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

If you think you’re going to want to come back to the U.S. at some point, when your medical needs are more critical, you can’t just start up Part B whenever you’d like.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

They were present at Pitch@Palace, Andrew's start up business network, and were pictured meeting the then-Chinese ambassador to the UK in 2020, alongside her parents.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

We hear the engine of the four-wheel drive start up and listen until it is out of hearing.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George