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

These eight purveyors stand out for subtle flourishes that jump-start a perfect day. —Edmund Tijerina, Bon Appétit, 27 Feb. 2025

Scorpio Healing your inner child takes time, but beginning that work during retrograde gives you a jump-start in the process. —Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2025

By communicating through biochemical signals with hair follicle stem cells, macrophages create the environment necessary to jump-start hair growth. —Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025

The mock simulations are new and designed to force the Dodgers’ group of catchers to jump-start their game-planning process before the club opens its season next month in Tokyo. —Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 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