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

Trump signs order to boost deep-sea mining U.S. President Donald Trump signed on Thursday a sweeping executive order to jump-start the controversial practice of deep-sea mining, which uses heavy machinery to remove minerals and metals from the seabed. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025

To jump-start this rebuild, Vrabel wants guys who play and act a certain way. —Chad Graff, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

But taking a few minutes to bring your body back to baseline can jump-start your recovery afterward. —Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025

So why not jump-start the cultural conversation around ballet with a big, year-long, transatlantic showcase? —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 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