kick-start
verb (used with object)
to start by means of a kick starter.
kick-started
-
past participleof kick-start.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof kick-start.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
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.
Marsh kick-started the innings with his trademark ferocious strength, regularly clubbing the ball down the ground, and by the time he had reached a 24-ball half-century, Rickelton had only faced five deliveries himself.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
OpenAI, which kick-started the artificial-intelligence boom with the 2022 release of ChatGPT, is officially preparing to stage an initial public offering that will test investor appetite for AI companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 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
With what “Padam Padam” kind of kick-started, especially in the States, was to know that there were kids for whom this was one of their first mega pop songs.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
She didn’t know what her mother had found in the stacks, but it looked like something had kick-started her writing.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
