From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
start out
v 1: take the first step or steps in carrying out an action; "We
began working at dawn"; "Who will start?"; "Get working as
soon as the sun rises!"; "The first tourists began to
arrive in Cambodia"; "He began early in the day"; "Let's
get down to work now" [syn: get down, begin, get,
start out, start, set about, set out, commence]
[ant: end, terminate]
2: leave; "The family took off for Florida" [syn: depart,
part, start, start out, set forth, set off, {set
out}, take off]