Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🚀 To launch 💻 To turn on
to start up

to start up

126 3.2
To begin a new business or project
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈstɑrt ʌp/
: montar
  • Thousands of new businesses start up every day, and each needs an Internet presence.
  • start up a business
  • start up a company
  • start up my own

And then we started up a Patreon.

Autoplay Next

Examples

Synonyms

to start
vsto start up
∞ 1.0

To begin an action, event or process

is used particularly for creating and launching commercial enterprises and organizations
to begin
vsto start up
∞ 1.0

To start an activity, event, or speech

focuses specifically on forming and establishing a business or organization
to open
vsto start up
∞ 1.0

To begin an event or activity

favours founding and organizing an enterprise, not only initiating public access
to set up
vsto start up
873 3.4

To make something begin, for example a business

is used for launching and forming businesses rather than only building structure
to get started
vsto start up
774 1.8

To begin doing something, for example a task or meeting

often implies founding and organizing an enterprise, not merely becoming active
to launch
vsto start up
765 3.7

To start something new with energy, often in public

covers forming and establishing a business beyond mere public introduction
to get going
vsto start up
598 2.3

To start doing something or to leave

usually means creating and launching a business rather than only becoming active
to start out
vsto start up
465 1.4

To begin a job, project, or career

refers to founding and establishing an enterprise, not only initial early steps
to open up
vsto start up
175 3.4

Begin to work and serve customers, like a shop or theater

is about creating and launching an enterprise rather than only operating it
to kick off
vsto start up
168 3.5

To start an event or activity, often officially

usually means establish and form a business, not merely hold a formal opening
to commence
vsto start up
  • Formal
157 4.4

To begin something

is more everyday and practical, focusing on creating a business not ceremony
to embark on
vsto start up
95 4.2

To start a new project, activity or journey that is often big and difficult

is more about creating and organizing a business, not only undertaking a difficult task
to get off the ground
vsto start up
29 4.2

Start a project or business successfully so it begins to work

may mean simply to begin without guaranteeing early success or smooth operation

Antonyms

to close down
175 2.9

To stop operating permanently, like a shop or company

to terminate
151 4.6

To make something stop or finish

How Active

full throttle
16 5.8
in full swing
23 3.5
underway
188 4.1
to start up
126 3.2
idle
60 2.8

Surface Forms

start up infinitive
started up past
started up past participle
starting up present participle
starts up third person singular

Morphology

start + up

The verb 'start' clearly conveys 'begin' and the particle 'up' commonly adds a sense of initiation, activation, or bringing something into operation, so the idea of launching or getting a business/project going is largely derivable from the constituents. However, the conventionalized use for 'establishing a business' and the nuance contributed by 'up' (activation vs. simple beginning) are somewhat idiomatic and may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without exposure.

Etymology

Start up: The verb start up for a business comes from the image of opening something new: you open the doors, turn on the lights and get the work moving. The words start and up show the idea of making something new begin, so it means 'to begin or establish a business'.