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
Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Contact support Powered By Inter will need to pull itself up from its bootstraps on Saturday after heartbreak a week ago.
—Alex Tabet, NBC news, 31 May 2025
Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Mar. 2023
Joe Camberato, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Low-Cost Bootstrapping Strategies The decision to bootstrap your SaaS business versus seeking venture capital is a significant one.
—John Hall, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bootstrap
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Noun
Like any founder facing a market disruption, the newly freed had to quickly identify opportunities, bootstrap resources and scale.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Contact support Powered By Inter will need to pull itself up from its bootstraps on Saturday after heartbreak a week ago.
—Alex Tabet, NBC news, 31 May 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
Each founder contributed $30,000 of their personal savings for a total of $120,000 to bootstrap the business.
—Joe Camberato, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Low-Cost Bootstrapping Strategies The decision to bootstrap your SaaS business versus seeking venture capital is a significant one.
—John Hall, Forbes.com, 15 June 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 Jul. 2025.
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