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

• stimulate

Examples of jump-start in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

President Kennedy’s aspirations to land a man on the moon jump-started American science dominance education in the 1960s, which necessarily rested, in part, on the fundamentals of Darwin’s evolutionary theory. —Randall Balmer, Twin Cities, 23 July 2025

Anderson said the grants will jump-start initial research and enable innovative scientists to strive for breakthroughs that bring hope to cancer patients in Broward. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025

But did Gunn, who took the reins of DC with Safran in 2022 and also wrote and produced the film, pull off a franchise jump-start? —Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 16 July 2025

Rub a little neutral oil (like vegetable oil) on the hamburger patties to jump-start the frying process. —Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 July 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