kick-start

verb

kick-started; kick-starting; kick-starts

transitive verb

1
: to start (something, such as a motorcycle) by means of a kick-starter
2
kick start noun

Examples of kick-start in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gamergate, a misogynistic harassment campaign that began in the early 2010s, provided a blueprint for the weaponization of the internet and kick-started the careers of many of the most prominent right wing internet figures today. Taylor Lorenz, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025 Many people rely on a caffeine boost to kick-start the morning—but while coffee or tea may be an energizing way to start the day, drinking too much can backfire. Laura Schober, Health, 16 Sep. 2025 As mentioned in The Briefing, after losing his first three league games of the 2021-22 season, a new defensive unit of Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney helped kick-start their season. Art De Roché, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025 Pop Mart kick-started its global expansion following a 676 million listing in Hong Kong in 2020. Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kick-start

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kick-start was in 1928

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Cite this Entry

“Kick-start.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick-start. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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