jump-start

verb

ˈjəmp-ˈstärt 

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

Synonyms

• amp (up)
• animate
• brace
• energize
• enliven
• fillip
• fire
• ginger (up)
• invigorate
• jazz (up)
• juice up
• liven (up)
• pep (up)
• quicken
• spike
• stimulate
• vitalize
• vivify
• zip (up)

Examples of jump-start in a Sentence

an intentionally provocative comment that was supposed to jump-start the discussion

Recent Examples on the Web

Their liberation came as France and the rest of Europe are trying to jump-start talks with Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. —arkansasonline.com, 21 Mar. 2025

If the jump-start came from microlightning in water sprays, rather than full-sized lightning strikes over water, Zare and his colleagues say that could solve the problem and give life to a new version of the old hypothesis. —Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 19 Mar. 2025

Meanwhile, Iran continues to weigh how to respond to a letter Trump sent them last week trying to jump-start negotiations over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. —Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025

Meanwhile, Iran continues to weigh how to respond to a letter from Trump last week trying to jump-start negotiations over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. —Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for jump-start

• apart
• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart
• upstart