kick-start

American  

[kik-stahrt] / ˈkɪkˌstɑrt /

Or kickstart

verb (used with object)

1. to start by means of a kick starter.

   to kick-start a motorcycle.

---

kick-start British  

/ ˈkɪkˌstɑːt /

verb

1. to start (a motorcycle engine) by means of a pedal that is kicked downwards

2. informal to make (something) active, functional, or productive again

---

noun

1. an action or event resulting in the reactivation of something

Other Word Forms

• kick-starter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of kick-start

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Some political and industry observers said that both the federal and Alberta governments might be required to step up with additional funding to kick-start construction.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Investors have been snapping up space stocks lately in the hope that the Artemis II mission around the moon will kick-start a new era of space exploration.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

I gave him $5,000 a few years ago to help kick-start him.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

Earlier last year, the government agreed to a stimulus package of up to around $1 trillion for investments in defense and infrastructure, seeking to kick-start the German economy after years of stagnation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

“Come on, Mon, it’s only our Comrade Uncle—” Comrade Pillai tried to kick-start Shakespeare.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy