sputter/roar to life
idiom
of a machine
: to begin working
The engine suddenly roared to life.
After several attempts to start it, the engine finally sputtered to life.
Examples of sputter/roar to life in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Related Articles Marin County waterfalls roar to life after recent rains
Skelton: California farmers bought Trump’s election pitch.
—
Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
Strong tornadoes possible Severe thunderstorms will roar to life south of where the heaviest rain falls Saturday.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
More fires could erupt Thursday, when the Santa Anas again roar to life, forecasters said.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
Emergency responders gameplan for worst-case scenarios, but rarely see one like this roar to life: A Category 4 hurricane is bearing down on Florida, while resources are strained responding to another devastating hurricane in the same region.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
Storms are expected to roar to life each day in the late afternoon or early evening hours and remain a threat overnight.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 24 June 2024
Wildfire outbreak possible in epicenter of devastating fires Gusty winds up to 50 mph will roar to life Wednesday afternoon across the southern Rockies and southern Plains as a potent storm takes shape.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
The massive Super Heavy rocket booster, which houses 33 engines, was expected to roar to life and vault the Starship spacecraft off its ground pad, which lies within SpaceX facilities on the coast of South Texas, sending the vehicle soaring out over the Gulf of Mexico.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 17 Apr. 2023
An hour before engines roar to life, a pit party lets guests see 12,000-pound trucks up close and meet drivers and crews, while a play area has inflatable slides and a remote control truck course.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2023
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Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
Strong tornadoes possible Severe thunderstorms will roar to life south of where the heaviest rain falls Saturday.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
More fires could erupt Thursday, when the Santa Anas again roar to life, forecasters said.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
Emergency responders gameplan for worst-case scenarios, but rarely see one like this roar to life: A Category 4 hurricane is bearing down on Florida, while resources are strained responding to another devastating hurricane in the same region.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
Storms are expected to roar to life each day in the late afternoon or early evening hours and remain a threat overnight.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 24 June 2024
Wildfire outbreak possible in epicenter of devastating fires Gusty winds up to 50 mph will roar to life Wednesday afternoon across the southern Rockies and southern Plains as a potent storm takes shape.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
The massive Super Heavy rocket booster, which houses 33 engines, was expected to roar to life and vault the Starship spacecraft off its ground pad, which lies within SpaceX facilities on the coast of South Texas, sending the vehicle soaring out over the Gulf of Mexico.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 17 Apr. 2023
An hour before engines roar to life, a pit party lets guests see 12,000-pound trucks up close and meet drivers and crews, while a play area has inflatable slides and a remote control truck course.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Sputter/roar to life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sputter%2Froar%20to%20life. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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