Meanings
nounrunning start (plural running starts)
plural running starts
- hobbiesA start to a race in which a contestant is already at full speed before reaching the starting line or take-off point.
- idiomaticAn initial advantage at the beginning of some action or pursuit; a head start.
The basketball season got off to a running start last week.
1 more example
His background in the military gave him a running start in his engineering career.
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna racing start in which the contestants are already in full motion when they pass the starting line
Similar
Broader
racing start
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Polish start z rozbiegu
- start z rozbiegusports: start to a race in which a contestant is already at full speed before reaching the starting line or take-off point
Cite this entry
APA
running start. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/running%20start
MLA
“running start.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/running%20start. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “running start,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/running%20start.
Source: running start on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.