start-up

noun

ˈstärt-ˌəp How to pronounce start-up (audio)
variants or startup
often attributive
1
: the act or an instance of setting in operation or motion
2
: a fledgling business enterprise

Examples of start-up in a Sentence

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.
Other start-up leagues and exhibition series have come and gone, briefly luring the passionate diasporas of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia and the Caribbean nations, but lacking the investment and infrastructure to succeed. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Silvester’s concept became the Falcon Study, a new interpretation of the original developed by his San Diego start-up Q7 Yacht Designs, with naval architecture by Dutch firm Dykstra, known for its work on the series of nascent J-Class examples. — Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2026 UConn School of Medicine physician-scientists have partnered with a precision medicine start-up company to explore treatments for pancreatic cancer that could be a game changer. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026 Again following the lead of EV start-ups such as Tesla and Rivian, legacy automakers are shifting from these ad hoc, tiny control units to one or two big computers that run all of the software in their vehicles—and, in turn, require much more RAM. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for start-up

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of start-up was in 1845

Rhymes for start-up

See All Rhymes for start-up

Browse Nearby Words

star tulip
start-up
star turn
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Cite this Entry

“Start-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/start-up. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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