flying start

noun

1
: a start in racing in which the participants are already moving when they cross the starting line or receive the starting signal
2
: a favorable start of something

Examples of flying start in a Sentence

The meeting got off to a flying start. The restaurant made a flying start by filling up on opening night.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Looking for a breakthrough, the Brewers are off to a flying start in the NL Championship Series. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 Reigning La Liga champions FC Barcelona are off to a flying start in the 2026-27 season, winning all seven games played so far and scoring an astonishing 31 goals. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026 But even if just a few of them do, Alexander Steen’s introduction to his new GM job will be off to a flying start. — Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 18 June 2026 Hairstory got off to a flying start, despite being priced in the prestige range. — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for flying start

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flying start was in 1851

Rhymes for flying start

See All Rhymes for flying start

Browse Nearby Words

flying squirrel
flying start
flying switch
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flying start.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flying%20start. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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