Phrasal verb
start out
Meanings
to begin a new activity, career, or process; to begin in a particular way
to leave a place in order to begin a journey
Definition
To start out means to begin something, especially a new activity, process, or situation.
Start out is used when someone begins a journey, career, task, or relationship in a particular way. It often highlights the early stage and what the initial conditions were like. It can also mean leaving a place to begin a trip. The phrase is common in everyday conversation and storytelling.
Examples
- I started out as a volunteer, and now I manage the whole team.
- You can start out with the basic lesson and add details later.
- He started out the hike too fast and had to slow down after an hour.
- We started out from the station before the streets got busy.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse start out with start over, but start out means “begin,” not “begin again after a failure.”
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.