kick-start

verb

ˈkik-ˌstärt 

kick-started; kick-starting; kick-starts

transitive verb

1

: to start (something, such as a motorcycle) by means of a kick-starter

2

: jump-start sense 2

kick start noun

Examples of kick-start in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Roupp helped his own cause by making a nifty play to turn two in the sixth, spearing a comebacker behind his back before firing to shortstop Willy Adames to kick-start a 1-6-3 double play. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 25 June 2026

Nuno’s side will kick-start a busy December with a trip to Sheffield United and will be at home on Boxing Day against Norwich City. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 25 June 2026

Ready to kick-start a new running habit? — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 24 June 2026

Ryan Murphy’s American Love Story kick-started a wave of nostalgia across the internet and turned Sarah Pidgeon into a star for her portrayal of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (the fashion designer’s VIP publicist for eight years until her death). — Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for kick-start

• apart
• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart
• upstart