jump-start

[juhmp-stahrt]

noun

1. Automotive.,  Also the starting of an internal-combustion engine that has a discharged or weak battery by means of booster cables.

verb (used with object)

1. to give a jump-start to.

   to jump-start an engine.

2. to enliven or revive.

   to jump-start a sluggish economy.

jump-start

verb

1. to start the engine of (a car) by connecting it to another engine with jump leads or (of a car) to start in this way

noun

1. the act of starting a car in this way

Word History and Origins

Origin of jump-start¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

All of this raises the stakes for the chancellor's challenge of delivering both credible tax and spend plans, as well as jump-starting growth at her upcoming Budget.

From BBC

Front Office Sports reported in January that Carter was advising a group of investors trying to raise $5 billion to jump-start the league but that James wasn’t involved.

From Los Angeles Times

Ohtani batted first in every game until Sunday when Roberts moved a slumping Betts to the top of the lineup with hopes of jump-starting his season.

From Los Angeles Times

“That’s kind of the course of a baseball season. It’s going to happen. So hopefully when you put it all together in a game like today, it can really jump-start us.”

From Los Angeles Times

“When I teach fiction, I give a lot of prompts to my students. I printed up all my prompts, 126 of them, and went through all of them in order to jump-start some ideas.”

From Los Angeles Times