A new starting profile, instead of ANSI C82.11, is defined to illustrate the starting transient of rapid-start fluorescent lamps driven by high-frequency electronic ballasts. By scrutinizing the lamp voltage and current waveforms, the starting transient can be classified into preheating, glow, and glow-to-arc stages. By the new definition, the starting characteristics of all ballast-lamp circuits can be well interpreted. To investigate the starting performance, a test system is set up. Experimental results show that the time required for glow and glow-to-arc stage is significantly affected by the starting voltage, the filament preheating and the environment temperature. On the basis of the in-depth analysis on the investigated results, the starting characteristics of rapid-start fluorescent lamps are well understood, providing useful information for designing the starting scenario for the ballast.