Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

start up

/stɑɹˈtʌp/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.50 in modern English

Syllables: start up
IPA: /stɑɹˈtʌp/

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To rise suddenly.

Intransitive verb

verb

To commence the operation of; to activate; to launch.

Transitive verb

verb

To begin to operate.

Intransitive verb

verb

Colloquial; Intransitive verb

verb

To begin to make a sound

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"He started up when he heard the scream."
"The four of them started up a law practice."
"The engine started up right away."
"The band started up playing."
"First a solitary blackbird started up, but soon the whole forest was alive with birdsong."

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /stɑɹˈtʌp/
British English: /stɑːˈtʌp/

Usage

Inflected Forms

starts up (present, singular) starting up (participle, present) started up (participle, past) started up (past)

Derived Forms

startup

Frequently Paired Words

autostart launch

Synonyms

start embark on commence

Questions

How do you pronounce start up?: The recorded pronunciation is /stɑɹˈtʌp/.
What does start up mean?: To rise suddenly.

How to pronounce start up

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “start up”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/stɑɹˈtʌp/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “start up”.
Repeat and practice — Say “start up” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.