startup

or start-up

[ stahrt-uhp ]

/ ˈstɑrtˌʌp /

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noun

the act or fact of starting something; a setting in motion.

a new business venture, or a new commercial or industrial project:a small, 5-month-old internet startup.

adjective

of or relating to the beginning of such a venture or project, especially to an investment made to initiate it: high start-up costs for construction of a new facility.

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Origin of startup

First recorded in 1550–60; noun use of verb phrase start up

Words nearby startup

start on, start out, start over, Star Trek, start something, startup, star turn, starvation, starvation wages, starve, starveling

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use startup in a sentence

A 2020 TechPoint report estimated that only 10% of west Africa-focused startups with at least one female co-founder successfully raised $1 million or more in the last decade.
Funds are emerging to back African female tech founders|Abubakar Idris|February 12, 2021|Quartz
Balderton, for instance, announced its Sustainable Future Goals with a bang at the startup event Slush in early December 2020.
European VC funds are building community around ESG initiatives|Richard Dal Porto|February 11, 2021|TechCrunch
Mighty Buildings is not the only startup doing 3D-printed homes.
Mighty Buildings nabs $40M Series B to 3D print your next house|Mary Ann Azevedo|February 9, 2021|TechCrunch
The amount is sizable for a Series A in general, but supersized for a LatAm startup.
Mexican online grocer Jüsto raises $65M in General Atlantic-led Series A|Mary Ann Azevedo|February 9, 2021|TechCrunch

Today, those learnings have been formed into a venture-backed startup.
What should banking look like for modern couples?|Natasha Mascarenhas|February 9, 2021|TechCrunch
Imagine waking up to find a guy who looks like a tech startup employee eating your charred crispy leg.
The Red Viper, Zoe Barnes, and the Best Fictional Deaths of 2014|Melissa Leon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
McCaslin likened the energy at ARNN to that of a startup, with the handsome salaries to match.
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio|Caitlin Dickson|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One reason Israel is so successful in the startup world, says Ophir, is because its citizens are known for speaking their minds.
The Airbnb of Home-Cooked Meals|Itay Hod|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Michlin, who was looking for ideas for a new startup company, says he felt a lightbulb switch on over his head.
The Airbnb of Home-Cooked Meals|Itay Hod|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A small country of roughly 8.2 million people, Israel has been dubbed the “startup nation.”
The Airbnb of Home-Cooked Meals|Itay Hod|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Had I been condemned to death I would not have expected a man to startup and take my place.
The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony (Volume 2 of 2)|Ida Husted Harper
Mr Startup was also a very good young man, but he was of a fiery calibre, whereas Frigidy was naturally mild.
Miss Mackenzie|Anthony Trollope
Startup was already an open-air preacher, whereas Frigidy lacked nerve to speak a word above his breath.
Miss Mackenzie|Anthony Trollope
He was a good young man, at peace with all the world—except Mr Startup.
Miss Mackenzie|Anthony Trollope
On such an occasion as this no servant, no friend, no Mr Startup, was allowed to interfere with her filial piety.
Miss Mackenzie|Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for startup

start up

verb (adverb)

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

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

to set in or go into motion, activity, etche started up the engine; the orchestra started up

adjective start-up

of or relating to input, usually financial, made to establish a new project or businessa start-up mortgage

noun start-up

a business enterprise that has been launched recently

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with startup

start up

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

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

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