outset

noun

out·​set ˈau̇t-ˌset How to pronounce outset (audio)
Synonyms of outsetnext
: beginning, start

Synonyms of outset

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Examples of outset in a Sentence

There have been problems with the project from the outset. From its very outset, the company has produced the highest quality products. He made it clear at the outset that he is not going to quit his job. She set high goals for herself at the outset of her career.
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The firms declined a skills test at the outset, so the researchers inferred skill gains from random assignment instead of measuring before and after. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 With that in mind, here’s my forecast of where the six biggest races stand at the outset of the season. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Its extended takes were conceived from the outset to sustain the audience’s emotional involvement. — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 Right from the outset, the winners recognize their overwhelming advantage and their equally overwhelming likelihood to win. — James Coffin, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outset

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outset was in 1759

Rhymes for outset

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Browse Nearby Words

outsert
outset
outsetting
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Cite this Entry

“Outset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outset. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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