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

Maybe an 8-1 win over those Mariners is the jump-start the club needs to get into gear. —Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025

Travelers will soon have the opportunity to get a jump-start on holiday travel plans. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2025

Representing the end of MCU’s phase five before The Fantastic Four: First Steps jump-starts phase six, Thunderbolts* has a lot on its shoulders. —Barry Levitt, Vulture, 1 May 2025

On his very first day in office, Trump declared an energy emergency — which his team said would unlock additional powers to jump-start energy production. —Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 30 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