Start out doing sth Meaning & Examples: How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Start out doing sth” Mean?

“Start out doing sth” means to begin an activity or career in a particular way. It often refers to the first steps someone takes when starting something new.

Introduction

The phrase “start out doing sth” is a common phrasal verb used to describe how someone begins an action, job, or project. Understanding the start out doing sth meaning helps learners talk about their first experiences or initial efforts in different situations. This phrase is useful when you want to explain how you began a task or career path. For example, you might say, “I started out working as a teacher before becoming a writer.” It highlights the first role or activity in a sequence of events.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: start out doing something
• Type: Intransitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To begin an activity or career in a particular way

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Start out doing sth” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means you cannot separate “start out” and place the object between them.

Common patterns include:

• Subject + start out + doing + object
• Subject + start out + as + noun (e.g., start out as a student)

Examples: “She started out working in sales.” / “He started out as an intern.”

How to Use Start out Doing sth?

Use “start out doing sth” when you want to describe the first activity or job someone did. It often emphasizes the beginning stage of a career, project, or habit.

It can describe personal experiences, career paths, or how a story or situation began.

Examples

Here are some examples of start out doing sth in a sentence to help you understand:

• She started out working as a cashier before opening her own store.
• Many actors start out doing small roles in theater.
• I started out learning English by watching movies.
• He started out as an engineer but later switched to teaching.
• They started out building simple websites and now create complex apps.

Common Mistakes

People often confuse “start out doing sth” with “start doing sth” or incorrectly separate the phrase.

Incorrect: “She started doing out her new job.”

Correct: “She started out doing her new job.”

Incorrect: “He started out his career as a teacher.”

Correct: “He started out as a teacher.”

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrases include “begin doing sth,” “set out to do sth,” and “kick off with sth.”

• Begin doing sth: More general, any start without focusing on the first phase.
• Set out to do sth: Emphasizes intention and planning.
• Kick off with sth: Often used for events or activities starting quickly or energetically.

“Start out doing sth” specifically highlights the initial stage or the first activity someone does.

Common Collocations

When using “start out doing sth,” certain objects and professions often appear. Here are common collocations:

• Start out doing work – begin a job or task
• Start out doing research – begin investigating a topic
• Start out doing business – begin a commercial activity
• Start out doing teaching – begin a career as a teacher
• Start out doing volunteering – begin helping without pay

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of start out doing sth:

• Start On At Sb
• Start In On Sb
• Start Sth Over
• Start In On Sth
• Start Sth Up

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “start out doing sth”:

Anna: How did you get into photography?

Ben: I actually started out doing small photo shoots for friends.

Anna: That’s a great way to begin! Did you study it formally later?

Ben: Yes, after that I took some classes to improve my skills.

Practice

Try this exercise to test your understanding of “start out doing sth”:

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb:

1. She ________ out ________ as a nurse before becoming a doctor.
2. They ________ out ________ small projects before working on bigger ones.
3. I ________ out ________ English by reading books.

Answers: started / doing

FAQ

• What does “start out doing sth” mean? It means to begin an activity or career in a particular way.
• Is “start out doing sth” separable? No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb.
• Can I use “start out” alone? Yes, but it usually needs a verb or phrase to complete the meaning.
• What’s the difference between “start out doing sth” and “start doing sth”? “Start out doing sth” emphasizes the first stage, while “start doing sth” is a general beginning.
• Is “start out doing sth” formal or informal? It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.