kick-start
Americanverb (used with object)
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kick-starts,
present (3rd person singular)
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kick-started,
past participle, past
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kick-starting
present participle
verb
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to start (a motorcycle engine) by means of a pedal that is kicked downwards
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informal to make (something) active, functional, or productive again
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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kick-startsimple
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kick-startssimple
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have kick-startedperfect
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has kick-startedperfect
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am kick-startingprogressive
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are kick-startingprogressive
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is kick-startingprogressive
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have been kick-startingperfect progressive
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has been kick-startingperfect progressive
Past
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kick-startedsimple
-
had kick-startedperfect
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was kick-startingprogressive
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were kick-startingprogressive
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had been kick-startingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of kick-start
First recorded in 1910–15
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:
Indian officials had hoped that a high-profile investment by Tesla would help kick-start an electric-vehicle industry the way Apple’s earlier investments had made India a major iPhone assembler.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
Next came the Daytime Emmy-winning TV series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which ran from 1986 through 1990 and helped kick-start the careers of now well-known stars including Phil Hartman, Laurence Fishburne and S. Epatha Merkerson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
As Villa rebuild, they might hope a match against opponents struggling for wins might be the chance to kick-start their season.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
A short squeeze could be dangerous since the buying could further drive prices up and kick-start a cycle that reinforces itself.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 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
That’s the day the U.S. and Iran plan to finalize a peace deal that ends the war and kick-starts nuclear negotiations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
Despite Rousey hinting the fight may be the last of her storied career, Bidarian is hoping she kick-starts a new era for MMA.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
The move kick-starts a long-simmering unionization effort that comes amid scrutiny of the electric utility for potential mishandling of the devastating Eaton fire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2025
Players occasionally receive tips via an in-game mail service, leading to a hyperlink or message board that kick-starts an investigation.
From New York Times ● Feb. 5, 2024
He kick-starts the bike, revs the throttle, and then they’re ripping down the street, her red hair crackling like a wildfire behind them.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
Fittingly, Akriila kick-started her career with a trap mixtape.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
Apollo Global Management kick-started the technique of using insurers to boost investments in 2009, when it co-founded insurer Athene, eventually becoming the top seller of annuities in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
The process for the return of Terrible’s to Primm kick-started May 5, when Affinity confirmed the closure of Primm Valley Casino Resorts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
Fally Ipupa kick-started his career working with fellow Congolese heavyweight Koffi Olomidé three decades ago and today boasts millions of fans across the globe.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
Three important revolutions shaped the course of history: the Cognitive Revolution kick-started history about 70,000 years ago.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine changed that, kick-starting the biggest rearmament effort on the continent since the the fall of the Berlin Wall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
It was during the show’s “Snack Attack” segment when Oswalt dissed on food bowls, specifically calling out KFC for kick-starting such a heinous eating trend.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2026
The Treasury Department announced Wednesday External link that five million children are now signed up for Trump accounts, the new investment vehicles aimed at kick-starting savings for young people.
From Barron's ● Apr. 15, 2026
In contrast to Muñoz, Liz De León, 39, never really thought of entering the education space before kick-starting her YouTube channel “Spanish with Liz.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
Barack looked out at the audience and into the TV cameras, and as if kick-starting some internal engine, he just smiled and began to roll.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
