sputter/roar to life
idiom
of a machine
: to begin working
The engine suddenly roared to life.
After several attempts to start it, the engine finally sputtered to life.
Examples of sputter/roar to life in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Severe thunderstorms will roar to life by the late afternoon in the Mississippi Valley, become more ferocious and pound potentially more than 900 miles of the region – from Louisiana to Minnesota – through the overnight hours.
—
Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
Investigators say an unidentified person, struggling in the high winds to light a fire for s’mores in a back yard at 9:30 a.m. Saturday used pieces of cardboard, only to see the fire roar to life and overtake the entire yard.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2025
Related Articles Marin County waterfalls roar to life after recent rains
Skelton: California farmers bought Trump’s election pitch.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
Strong tornadoes possible Severe thunderstorms will roar to life south of where the heaviest rain falls Saturday.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
More fires could erupt Thursday, when the Santa Anas again roar to life, forecasters said.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
Emergency responders gameplan for worst-case scenarios, but rarely see one like this roar to life: A Category 4 hurricane is bearing down on Florida, while resources are strained responding to another devastating hurricane in the same region.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
Storms are expected to roar to life each day in the late afternoon or early evening hours and remain a threat overnight.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 24 June 2024
Wildfire outbreak possible in epicenter of devastating fires Gusty winds up to 50 mph will roar to life Wednesday afternoon across the southern Rockies and southern Plains as a potent storm takes shape.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
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Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
Investigators say an unidentified person, struggling in the high winds to light a fire for s’mores in a back yard at 9:30 a.m. Saturday used pieces of cardboard, only to see the fire roar to life and overtake the entire yard.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2025
Related Articles Marin County waterfalls roar to life after recent rains
Skelton: California farmers bought Trump’s election pitch.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
Strong tornadoes possible Severe thunderstorms will roar to life south of where the heaviest rain falls Saturday.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
More fires could erupt Thursday, when the Santa Anas again roar to life, forecasters said.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
Emergency responders gameplan for worst-case scenarios, but rarely see one like this roar to life: A Category 4 hurricane is bearing down on Florida, while resources are strained responding to another devastating hurricane in the same region.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
Storms are expected to roar to life each day in the late afternoon or early evening hours and remain a threat overnight.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 24 June 2024
Wildfire outbreak possible in epicenter of devastating fires Gusty winds up to 50 mph will roar to life Wednesday afternoon across the southern Rockies and southern Plains as a potent storm takes shape.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Sputter/roar to life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sputter%2Froar%20to%20life. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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