jump-started; jump-starting; jump-starts

transitive verb

1
: to start (an engine or vehicle) by temporary connection to an external power source (such as another vehicle's battery)
2
a
: to start or restart (something) rapidly or forcefully
advertising can jump-start a political campaign
b
: to impart fresh or renewed energy to (something) : energize
a plan to jump-start the stagnant economy
jump start noun

Examples of jump-start in a Sentence

an intentionally provocative comment that was supposed to jump-start the discussion
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To speed up the process, Barreto has contacted more than 20 research groups around the world that are tracking groups of people beginning at or before birth, in hopes of using their data to jump-start his research. Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 13 Feb. 2025 May Decrease Inflammation Inflammation is a helpful process designed to jump-start healing during injury or illness. Aviv Joshua, Ms, Verywell Health, 11 Feb. 2025 In 1933, a chance encounter with John Hammond, a record producer who would later help jump-start the careers of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, led to a recording session with the jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman. Josh Ocampo, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2025 It’s been more than 10 years since the 2014 riots in Ferguson, Missouri jump-started the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and what began as an underground and decentralized social movement turned into dozens of muted or poorly-thought out demonstrations. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for jump-start 

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of jump-start was in 1973

Dictionary Entries Near jump-start

Cite this Entry

“Jump-start.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jump-start. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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