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.

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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

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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

Canada’s Liberal government, under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also tried to jump-start private-sector investment in Canada through the establishment of an infrastructure bank.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 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

“Your colors will return, Mia. I promise. And you’ll feel three-dimensional again. Try doing something creative to jump-start your brain a little. You told me you like to paint; why don’t you try that?”

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass