false start
noun
1
: a premature start (as of a race or football play)
2
: an unsuccessful attempt to begin something (such as a career)
Examples of false start in a Sentence
If someone makes a false start, the race is immediately stopped and the runners have to start again.
After several false starts, the researchers were finally able to identify the virus causing the epidemic.
Recent Examples on the Web
Patrick Mahomes threw incomplete on 3rd-and-15 after a false start penalty moved the Kansas City offense backward.
—
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025
The Titans held a 14-13 lead late in the game when Vrabel instructed his Titans to purposefully take three penalties in a row — delay of game, false start, neutral zone infraction — which killed an additional minute of game clock thanks to a loophole in the rules.
—Chad Graff, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
On the second offensive drive of the game, the Niners stacked a hold, false start and sack, turning a nice bit of early-series momentum into a third-and-23 failure and a punt.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2024
Wednesday’s north London derby victory was seen as a chance to go on a similar run, but instead looks like another false start.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for false start 
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Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025
The Titans held a 14-13 lead late in the game when Vrabel instructed his Titans to purposefully take three penalties in a row — delay of game, false start, neutral zone infraction — which killed an additional minute of game clock thanks to a loophole in the rules.
—Chad Graff, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
On the second offensive drive of the game, the Niners stacked a hold, false start and sack, turning a nice bit of early-series momentum into a third-and-23 failure and a punt.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2024
Wednesday’s north London derby victory was seen as a chance to go on a similar run, but instead looks like another false start.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for false start
Dictionary Entries Near false start
Cite this Entry
“False start.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/false%20start. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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