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

Iconiq Capital, which started in Silicon Valley with clients like Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey, has created collaborative philanthropy funds to jump-start giving. —Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 11 July 2025

Completing it can jump-start your motivation and preempt procrastination. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Emerson's speech shook things up, with one small town outside Boston jump-starting America's cultural revolution: Concord. —Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025

The changes are meant to jump-start housing construction, which has often been strangled by the use of the state's signature 1970 environmental law. —Terry Collins, USA Today, 3 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