start up
2 meanings
start a new business, company, or organisation
What does "start up" mean in this sense?
Examples
- She started up her own company straight out of university.
- He'd always wanted to start a charity up, so he finally did it last year.
- They started up the business with very little money and grew it into a global brand.
How to use it
The most common pattern, where the object follows 'up' directly — especially with longer noun phrases.
She decided to start up a social enterprise focused on food waste.
Separation is natural with short noun phrases, placing the object between 'start' and 'up'.
He started a small agency up with just two colleagues and a laptop.
When a pronoun replaces the object, it must go between 'start' and 'up' — this is obligatory.
They had a great idea for a business and finally started it up last spring.
The passive is natural, often used when the focus is on the business itself rather than who founded it.
The nonprofit was started up by a group of volunteers who wanted to support local schools.
Infinitive constructions with verbs of intention are very common, reflecting the forward-looking nature of entrepreneurship.
She'd always hoped to start up her own consultancy after gaining some industry experience.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'one', it must go between 'start' and 'up', not after 'up'. Placing a pronoun after the particle sounds unnatural and is considered incorrect.
'Start up' and 'set up' are very similar, but they're not always interchangeable. 'Start up' emphasises the entrepreneurial act of launching something new, while 'set up' focuses more on the process of organising and establishing it. In many sentences both work, but 'start up' feels more natural when talking about innovative or entrepreneurial ventures.
'Start up' can also describe making an engine or machine begin working, which is a completely different meaning. Make sure the object in your sentence is a business entity (company, charity, venture), not a machine or device — otherwise the meaning changes entirely.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both conversation and writing. It is very similar to 'set up', but 'start up' is especially common when talking about new, entrepreneurial ventures, and is closely linked to the popular noun 'startup'.
make an engine or machine begin to work
Sense 2: What does "start (sth) up" mean?
Examples
- She started the engine up and pulled out of the driveway.
- The mechanic tried to start up the old generator, but it wouldn't respond.
- He got into the truck and started it up before the others had even arrived.
How to use it
The most common pattern — a person starts up a specific engine or machine.
The driver started up the truck and headed down the highway.
With short noun objects, the verb and particle can be separated — both orders are equally natural.
She started the generator up just before the storm hit.
When using a pronoun instead of a noun, it must go between 'start' and 'up' — this is not optional.
The mechanic checked the engine and then started it up.
Used without an object when the machine is the subject and no person is mentioned as the cause.
The old motorbike finally started up after several attempts.
The passive form is natural, especially in technical or descriptive writing about how machines are activated.
The backup generator was started up as soon as the power failed.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'start' and 'up'. Putting it after 'up' is ungrammatical in English.
'Turn on' works for any electrical device, like a TV or a kettle, but 'start up' is more specific to engines, motors, and machines that go through a power-up or ignition process. Using 'start up' for a simple light switch or kettle sounds unnatural.
'Start up' can also mean to establish a new business, so the meaning depends on the object. With engines and machines, it means to make them begin operating. With companies or projects, it means something very different — so make sure your context is clear.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. It is slightly more vivid than simply saying 'start', suggesting the machine coming to life. It can also be used without an object when the machine is clear from context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'start up' be used for non-commercial organisations, like a community group or a movement?
Yes, as long as the idea of launching something new from scratch is clear. You can say 'They started up a community group to support local artists' or 'She started up a volunteer network during the crisis'. The key is that something genuinely new is being brought into existence, not just an event or a one-off activity.
Is 'start up' connected to the noun 'startup'?
Yes, directly. The noun 'startup' (sometimes written 'start-up') comes from this phrasal verb and refers to a newly launched business, often in the tech or innovation sector. Because 'startup' is so widely used, native speakers feel very comfortable with the verb 'start up' in business contexts, and the two often appear together in entrepreneurship discussions.
Can I use 'start up' in the present continuous, like 'I am starting up a business'?
It can sound slightly forced if you're describing a single moment of launch, since the act of founding a business isn't usually an ongoing action in the way 'I'm cooking dinner' is. It works better when you're describing an extended process — for example, 'We're currently starting up a new division of the company'. For most contexts, the simple past, present perfect, or infinitive constructions feel more natural.
What kinds of things can be the object of 'start up'?
In the business sense, the object should be a recognisable business entity or organisation — a company, venture, charity, agency, nonprofit, firm, restaurant, school, or similar. Collocations like 'start up a tech company', 'start up a social enterprise', or 'start up a small business from home' all sound natural. Avoid using machines or devices as the object, as that belongs to a different sense of the phrasal verb.
Is 'start up' more informal than 'found' or 'establish'?
Yes, slightly. 'Found' and 'establish' are more formal and are common in official documents, company histories, and written reports — for example, 'The institute was founded in 1998'. 'Start up' is more conversational and dynamic, making it the natural choice in interviews, journalism, and everyday talk about entrepreneurship. In most professional but non-formal contexts, 'start up' works perfectly well.
Can 'start up' be used when no one is doing it — like when a machine turns on by itself?
Yes! The intransitive form is very natural. You can say 'The engine started up' or 'The computer started up automatically' without mentioning a person. This is common when the focus is on the machine itself rather than who activated it.
Is 'start up' the same as just saying 'start'?
'Start up' and 'start' are very close in meaning, but 'start up' is slightly more vivid — it emphasises the process of the machine coming to life. In everyday speech, both are used, and either is usually fine when talking about engines or motors.
Does 'start up' always refer to engines and machines?
In this sense, yes — the object should be an engine, motor, or mechanical system like a generator, computer, or pump. The same words 'start up' can also mean to establish a new business, but that's a completely different meaning and usually becomes clear from the context.
Can I use 'start up' in the present continuous — like 'The engine is starting up'?
It's possible, but it's mainly used for a specific moment happening right now — for example, 'Listen, the engine is starting up!' For general or repeated actions, the simple present or simple past sounds more natural.
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