- Also called (informal): flyer (in sprinting) a start by a competitor anticipating the starting signal
- a start to a race or time trial in which the competitor is already travelling at speed as he or she passes the starting line
- any promising beginning
- an initial advantage over others
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
fly′ing start′,
- a start, as in sailboat racing, in which the entrants begin moving before reaching the starting line.
- a start or beginning of anything, characterized by the participant's vigor and enthusiasm and sometimes by a certain advantage over competitors:She's off to a flying start in her new job.
- 1850–55
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
flying start n
'flying start' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):