kick-start

verb

kick-started; kick-starting; kick-starts

transitive verb

1
: to start (something, such as a motorcycle) by means of a kick-starter
2
kick start noun

Examples of kick-start in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fermentation of milk into yogurt can be kick-started by ants, thanks to the bacteria, acids, and enzymes these insects contain. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025 The microbes still need a small amount of sulfuric acid to kick-start the process of breaking down the ore. Vanessa Bates Ramirez, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2025 When confronted with all the commentary aimed her way following the episode, West didn’t back down, which may have kick-started a conversation about how Cardi compares to other figures who are criticized for their parenting choices. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 23 Sep. 2025 Gamergate, a misogynistic harassment campaign that began in the early 2010s, provided a blueprint for the weaponization of the internet and kick-started the careers of many of the most prominent right wing internet figures today. Taylor Lorenz, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kick-start

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kick-start was in 1928

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kick-start.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick-start. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on kick-start

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!