1
: a person who initiates or sets going: such as
a
: an official who gives the signal to begin a race
b
: one who dispatches vehicles
2
a
: one that engages in a competition
especially
: a member of a starting lineup
b
: one that begins to engage in an activity or process
3
: one that causes something to begin operating: such as
a
: a device for starting an engine
especially
: an electric motor used to start an internal combustion engine
b
: material containing microorganisms (such as yeast) used to induce a desired fermentation
4
: something that is the beginning of a process, activity, or series
especially
: appetizer
see also:
: of, relating to, or being an item acquired with the expectation that a more elaborate or sophisticated model will be acquired in the future
a starter home
Examples of starter in a Sentence
Noun
The team is playing only five regular starters.
The car's starter needs to be replaced.
Recent Examples on the Web
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
The release included many of the Falcons starters, including Bijan Robinson and Drake London.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
California has virtually stopped building starter homes.
—Patricia Lock Dawson, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for starter
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Noun
If there are Porthilly oysters on the menu don’t even think about ordering another starter.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
The release included many of the Falcons starters, including Bijan Robinson and Drake London.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Adjective
Whereas older homes were often two-bedroom starter homes, now there are new three- and four-bedroom homes, with prices clearing $400,000, which was previously unheard of.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
California has virtually stopped building starter homes.
—Patricia Lock Dawson, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for starter
Cite this Entry
“Starter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/starter. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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