head start

noun

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

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

Sabi Omakase Japanese cuisine this far from East Asia has a terrific head start thanks to the abundance of cold sea. —Alexandra Pereira, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2024

Nevertheless, the child’s play gave them a head start in the food game despite trying to forge a career outside of restaurants. —Brock Keeling, Orange County Register, 14 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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