start up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal in business contexts; informal when referring to beginning an action.
Quick answer
What does “start up” mean?
To begin operating or functioning.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To begin operating or functioning; to initiate a new business venture.
The process of launching a new enterprise, especially in technology or innovative sectors; a newly established business company.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Hyphenation: British English more commonly uses 'start-up' as a noun/adjective; American English increasingly uses 'startup' as a solid compound. The verb phrase 'start up' is consistent.
Connotations
In both varieties, the noun strongly connotes innovation, tech, and entrepreneurship. Slightly stronger association with Silicon Valley in American usage.
Frequency
The noun form is significantly more frequent in business/tech contexts globally, with American English leading in overall frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “start up” in a Sentence
[Someone] starts up [something] (e.g., a business).[Something] starts up (intransitive, e.g., The engine started up).To start up with [an idea/team].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “start up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It took several attempts to start up the old generator.
- They decided to start up a community garden in the vacant lot.
American English
- The software takes a minute to start up fully.
- He moved to San Francisco to start up a new tech company.
adverb
British English
- This is not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- This is not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- They secured start-up funding from a venture capital firm.
- The start-up phase of the project is always the most challenging.
American English
- She works for a fintech startup company.
- We're currently in startup mode, working very long hours.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers specifically to a newly founded company, often in tech, seeking rapid growth and investment.
Academic
Used in economics and business studies to discuss entrepreneurship, innovation, and new market entrants.
Everyday
Can refer to any new beginning, e.g., 'I started up a new hobby.'
Technical
In computing, to boot or initialize a system or process.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “start up”
- Using 'start-up' as a verb (incorrect: 'We start-up a company'; correct: 'We start up a company' or 'We start a company up').
- Overusing the noun for any small business instead of one with an innovative, scalable model.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The verb is always two words: 'start up'. The noun/adjective can be hyphenated ('start-up') or written as one word ('startup'), with the solid form becoming more common, especially in American English.
A start-up is designed for rapid growth and scaling, often based on an innovative idea or technology. A traditional small business (e.g., a local shop) is typically focused on stable, sustainable revenue in an established market.
Yes. The verb phrase can be used for any beginning, e.g., 'start up a conversation' or 'start up the engine'. The noun form, however, is almost exclusively business-related.
Common antonyms are 'to close down', 'to wind up', or 'to shut down' a company.
To begin operating or functioning.
Start up is usually neutral to formal in business contexts; informal when referring to beginning an action. in register.
Start up: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɑːt ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɑːrt ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Start up from scratch”
- “Start up on a shoestring”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a car engine STARting UP. A start-up company is like an engine turning over for the first time.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUSINESS IS A MACHINE/JOURNEY (We launched the start-up; The start-up is gaining traction).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'start-up' used correctly as a noun?