boot·strap
ˈbüt-ˌstrap 
1
: a looped strap sewed at the side or the rear top of a boot to help in pulling it on
2
bootstraps plural
: unaided efforts
—often used in the phrase by one's own bootstraps
1
: designed to function independently of outside direction : capable of using one internal function or process to control another
a bootstrap operation to load a computer
2
: carried out with minimum resources or advantages
bootstrap efforts
bootstrapped; bootstrapping
: 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
Harry McCracken
bootstrapper
noun
Examples of bootstrap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Flair has the experience and the accolades going into the match but Stratton has been known to pick herself up by her bootstraps and overcome the odds.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Mar. 2023
Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Of course, that is one strong perspective; others might see these early incentives as necessary experiments to bootstrap new forms of creator economies.
—Cloris Chen, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bootstrap
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Noun
And they're supposed to just kind of pull up their bootstraps and go to work.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Flair has the experience and the accolades going into the match but Stratton has been known to pick herself up by her bootstraps and overcome the odds.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
The bootstrap origin story of the man who allegedly invented the cult-favorite snack Flamin’ Hot Cheetos is being told in a new feature film directed by actress and Corpus Christi native Eva Longoria.
—Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Mar. 2023
Verb
Governments are seeking to leverage AI investment to accelerate societal and economic development and bootstrap to the next level of economic development.
—Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Of course, that is one strong perspective; others might see these early incentives as necessary experiments to bootstrap new forms of creator economies.
—Cloris Chen, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bootstrap
Cite this Entry
“Bootstrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bootstrap. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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