jump-start
Americannoun
-
jump-starts
plural
verb (used with object)
-
jump-starts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jump-started,
past participle, past
-
jump-starting
present participle
-
to give a jump-start to.
to jump-start an engine.
-
to enliven or revive.
to jump-start a sluggish economy.
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
jump-startsimple
-
jump-startssimple
-
have jump-startedperfect
-
has jump-startedperfect
-
am jump-startingprogressive
-
are jump-startingprogressive
-
is jump-startingprogressive
-
have been jump-startingperfect progressive
-
has been jump-startingperfect progressive
Past
-
jump-startedsimple
-
had jump-startedperfect
-
was jump-startingprogressive
-
were jump-startingprogressive
-
had been jump-startingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of jump-start
First recorded in 1975–80
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Financial experts shared three prompts, which people can adjust to suit their own family, to jump-start a conversation with parents about their estate plans.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
A push now aims to jump-start the project, but there are skeptics.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Mindy Kaling’s “Not Suitable for Work” chronicles five ambitious neighbors in Manhattan looking to jump-start their careers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
The ceasefire was supposed to jump-start negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, right?
From Slate ● Jul. 9, 2026
I flicked the television on and off a couple times, then went over and gave it a smack, hoping to jump-start the entire central Michigan cable network with a well-delivered blow, but it wasn’t happening.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
“We want to rely on natural chemicals in the soil, like from our cover crop, which jump-starts that natural nutrient capacity of the soil.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2025
William Karlsson is back and there’s hope Eichel and Theodore returning soon jump-starts power play.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 16, 2024
First is forewarning, which jump-starts the psychological immune system because it’s sleeping most of the time.
From Scientific American ● Mar. 13, 2023
This satisfying brew revs energy levels with a dose of caffeine and, for many people, quickly and reliably jump-starts gut activity and an urgent need to poop.
From New York Times ● Nov. 30, 2021
For instance, Hall meets a friend named “Glen, duh!” who shepherds him into showbiz, and he jump-starts his career in “Oz Angeles.”
From Washington Post ● Aug. 10, 2016
After the 1984 Olympics helped fund youth sports in L.A. for decades with a $230-million surplus, the 2028 Games have already jump-started adaptive sports opportunities as part of the PlayLA program.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
In happier news, rising case counts have jump-started research into drugs that could treat people who do get sick, including antibody and antiviral therapies.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
Then came a shift in 2016, when the Academy gave an honorary Oscar to Lynn Stalmaster, who cast hundreds of films and jump-started the careers of Dustin Hoffman, Jeff Bridges, John Travolta and Christopher Reeve.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
Luka Doncic jump-started his most valuable player campaign and rose to the top of the NBA scoring leaderboard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2025
Without knowing it or meaning to, I had jump-started his search for a life outside Idaho by telling him he could probably find a job anywhere.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
He is widely seen as a gifted salesman with a knack for jump-starting the sort of viral moments on social media that double as shrewd self-promotion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 9, 2026
For many Europeans, including former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, the EU—far from being a problem—offers the best hope for jump-starting their lagging economy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 28, 2025
“If there is any money left over in the plan, the student can roll the money over to a Roth IRA, jump-starting their retirement planning.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2025
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 ● Sep. 2, 2025
Like hooking up the wires for the TV or the stereo, or jump-starting a car.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
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