jump-start

American  

[juhmp-stahrt] / ˈdʒʌmpˌstɑrt /

noun

jump-starts plural

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)

jump-starts, present (3rd person singular) jump-started, past participle, past jump-starting present participle

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 British  

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

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• jump-starts
  plural

Participles

• jump-starting
  present
• jump-started
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• jump-start
  simple
• jump-starts
  simple
• have jump-started
  perfect
• has jump-started
  perfect
• am jump-starting
  progressive
• are jump-starting
  progressive
• is jump-starting
  progressive
• have been jump-starting
  perfect progressive
• has been jump-starting
  perfect progressive

Past

• jump-started
  simple
• had jump-started
  perfect
• was jump-starting
  progressive
• were jump-starting
  progressive
• had been jump-starting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will jump-start
  simple
• will have jump-started
  perfect
• will be jump-starting
  progressive
• will have been jump-starting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of jump-start

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

The Dodgers took full advantage of the Padres’ defensive mistakes to jump-start their offense.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2026

The move came after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tweeted on Sunday that his company is hiring people to jump-start its robot business.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

In an effort to jump-start his muse last March, he took a trip to California's Joshua Tree National Park.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

In April, Lane approved the changes to the claim process and, in the same hearing, approved requests from Purdue, with the support of victims’ attorneys, to hire Gentle and jump-start his review of claims.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

To jump-start the youngest children into a better life, she sponsored a kindergarten.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield