# startup

/ˈstɑɹˌtəp/ (US) · /stˈɑːtʌp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/startup
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a new company

noun · CEFR B1

a new business or organization that is designed to grow very quickly, often in technology.

For teachers: a newly established business venture, typically characterized by innovation and a scalable business model aimed at rapid growth.

- She left her job at the bank to join a small tech startup in London.
- The venture capital firm specializes in seed-stage startups that focus on sustainable energy solutions and carbon capture technology.

### 2. starting a machine

noun · CEFR B2

the act of starting a machine, a computer, or a complicated process.

For teachers: the process of setting a system, machine, or software application into operation.

- The machine makes a loud humming noise during startup.
- The system administrator identified a script that was significantly delaying the server startup during the morning peak hours.

### 3. an upstart

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

someone who has suddenly become important or famous but does not have much experience.

For teachers: a person who has suddenly risen to a position of wealth or power but lacks the appropriate social background or experience.

- The old lords looked down on the young startup who had just bought the estate.
- In the nineteenth-century novel, the protagonist is often depicted as a social startup attempting to navigate the rigid hierarchies of the aristocracy.

## Examples

- She left her corporate job to join a small tech startup.
- The startup secured its first round of funding after demonstrating a working prototype of the app.
- While many startups fail within their first three years, those that successfully navigate the transition from seed funding to profitability often disrupt established market leaders.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.