head start

noun

Synonyms of head startnext
1
: an advantage granted or achieved at the beginning of a race, a chase, or a competition
a 10-minute head start
2
: a favorable or promising beginning
took some extra classes to get a head start in college

Examples of head start in a Sentence

They gave me a five-minute head start. She took some extra classes to get a head start in her career. His natural athletic talent gave him a head start on his peers.
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.
Get a head start on Labor Day weekend shopping with more impressive deals happening at Amazon this week. — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 Begin seeds inside to get a head start on the season, especially in colder climates or for plants that need a longer growing period. — Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026 That of course is the bare bones premise of just the first game in the franchise, and explaining the identity of the true villain is where your head starts to spin. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026 Cheng Chia Huang | Getty Images Nvidia’s massive head start in artificial intelligence turned the chipmaker into the world’s most valuable company. — Ari Levy, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for head start

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of head start was in 1859

Rhymes for head start

See All Rhymes for head start

Browse Nearby Words

headstand
head start
head stay
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Head start.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head%20start. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

head start

noun
1
: an advantage given to a contestant at the beginning of a race
a five-minute head start
2
: a favorable or promising beginning

More from Merriam-Webster on head start

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for head start

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