What does "startup" mean?
The act or process of starting a process or machine.
Startup
/ˈstɑɹtˌʌp/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act or process of starting a process or machine.
- Grammar: startup is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: boot, boot sequence, boot up, booting.
- Useful contrasts: corporate, established, established company.
- Usage evidence: He started a startup in Algeria.
How to use "startup"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "startup" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "startup" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "startup" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "startup" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "startup" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "boot" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "startup", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act or process of starting a process or machine. countable, uncountable
- 2 A kind of high-low or thigh-high boot worn by rustic people. dialectal, in-plural, obsolete
"1579, Edmund Spenser, The Shepheardes Calender, London: Hugh Singleton, “Februarie,” Glosse, Galage) a startuppe or clownish shoe."
- 3 the act of starting a new operation or practice wordnet
- 4 A new company or organization or business venture designed for rapid growth. countable, uncountable
"Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete."
- 5 A kind of gaiter or legging. dialectal, in-plural, obsolete
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 the act of setting in operation wordnet
- 7 A folder (especially in Windows), containing shortcuts of applications or programs that start up automatically after a user signs in. capitalized, countable, often, uncountable
"Add an app to run automatically at startup in Windows 10, Microsoft Support 3. With the file location open, press the Windows logo key + R, type shell:startup, then select OK. This opens the Startup folder. / 4. Copy and paste the shortcut to the app from the file location to the Startup folder."
- 8 One who comes suddenly into notice; an upstart. obsolete
"That young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow: if I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"He started a startup in Algeria."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "startup"?
Common synonyms include: boot, boot sequence, boot up, booting, bootstrap, business.
How do you use "startup" in a sentence?
He started a startup in Algeria.
How do you pronounce "startup"?
Pronounced /ˈstɑɹtˌʌp/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Deverbal from start up.
Etymology 2
From start + up, describing a boot that starts up (reaches up) to the middle of the leg.