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Start over meaning

Start over means to begin something again from the start, often in a new way (mainly US). It can also mean to begin a new life, often in a new place.

Check yourself: 3 questions

start over

start over · started · starting

B1No object+1 more meaning

I made a mistake in the first line, so I started over.

Start over meanings and examples

2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.

  1. 1begin something again from the start, often in a new way (mainly US)
  2. 2begin a new life, often in a new place
  1. 1

    Begin something again from the start, often in a new way (mainly US)

    start over

    B1No object

    • I made a mistake in the first line, so I started over.
    • The game crashed and we had to start over.
    • Can we start over? I think we got off on the wrong foot.
  2. 2

    Begin a new life, often in a new place

    start over

    B2No object

    • After the divorce, she moved to Lisbon to start over.
    • It’s never too late to start over.
    • They lost everything in the flood and had to start over.
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Is start over separable?

Start over has no object: Let’s start over. To name the thing, use start something again or start over with: start over with a new plan.

Start over is mainly American. In UK English, people often say start again: Let’s start again from the top.

Verb tenses for start over

PresentI start over · she starts over
Paststarted over
Present perfecthave started over
-ing formstarting over

Common mistakes with start over

What learners often say, and what to say instead.

  • Wrong: I deleted it and started over it.

    Right: I deleted it and started over.

    Start over has no object.

  • Wrong: Let’s start over again from the beginning.

    Right: Let’s start over from the beginning.

    Start over already means again, so again is extra.

  • Wrong: I want to start over a new life.

    Right: I want to start over and build a new life.

    Start over has no object. Add a second verb for the new life.

Synonyms and opposites of start over

Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.

Similar

  • start againthe same; more common in UK English
  • restartstart again, often a machine or a game
  • make a fresh startbegin a new part of your life

Opposite

Start over quiz

Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.

  1. 1My drawing was a mess, so I threw it away and ___.

  2. 2Choose the right sentence.

  3. 3“After he lost his job, he moved to a new city to start over.” What did he want?

Find your level

The phrasal verbs test adapts as you answer, from A2 to C1, and shows which ones you miss.

Test yourself on start overTake the full test

Start over FAQ

Questions people ask about start over.

Start over vs start again: what is the difference?

They mean the same. Start over is mainly American; start again is common in UK English and is fine everywhere.

Start over vs restart: what is the difference?

Restart is common for machines and games: restart your computer. Start over is more for people and tasks.

What does can we start over mean?

It is a friendly way to say let’s forget a bad first meeting or argument and try again.

Use start over in real conversations

In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.

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