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.
Mr Stone’s discovery kick-started one of the most heart-wrenching puzzles in the world of horse racing. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 One of Fuse’s ideas is to get a bunch of big capacitors to discharge at once, thus kick-starting a reaction. Jaron Lanier, WIRED, 10 Dec. 2024 Roth conversions move pretax or nondeductible IRA funds to a Roth IRA, which can kick-start tax-free growth. Kate Dore, Cfp®, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2024 Learn how to kick-start and manage your organization’s DevSecOps journey by registering to attend Forrester Security & Risk Summit. Forrester, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near kick-start

Cite this Entry

“Kick-start.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick-start. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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!