bootstrap

verb

bootstrapped; bootstrapping

transitive verb

: to promote or develop by initiative and effort with little or no assistance
bootstrapped herself to the top
… turns out to be pretty talented at identifying and bootstrapping promising creative endeavors.Harry McCracken
bootstrapper noun

Examples of bootstrap in a Sentence

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.
Consumer-robotics startups are usually trying to bootstrap a data flywheel from zero. Ashutosh Saxena, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 But Toyota’s goal of building the world’s greatest creator hub will only start to take shape if outside companies find real ways to bootstrap their next products here. Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 4 May 2026 Those lessons shaped Scandit in our early days to bootstrap, experiment, and find initial product-market fit. Samuel Mueller, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026 Eliminating it will add additional costs to individuals trying to bootstrap innovative concepts. Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bootstrap

Word History

Etymology

derivative of bootstrap entry 1 or bootstrap entry 2

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bootstrap was in 1951

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bootstrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bootstrap. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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