1
: a kick that puts the ball into play in a football or soccer game
the opening kickoff
2
: the start of something : commencement
the campaign kickoff
kicked off; kicking off; kicks off
1
: to start or resume play in football by a placekick
2
a
: to initiate proceedings
b
: to start out : begin
the movie kicks off with a bank robbery
3
slang
: die
: to mark the beginning of
kick off the campaign
Examples of kickoff in a Sentence
Noun
At his campaign kickoff, the senator gave a passionate speech about combating poverty.
His speech marked the kickoff of his campaign.
Verb
I'll kick off the discussion on ethics with this question.
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Recent Examples on the Web
Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
But the league is also adding Thanksgiving Eve, because apparently if the NFL discovers Americans are already drinking somewhere, the league will eventually find a kickoff window.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026
Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
The budget proposal will officially kick off the final stretch of negotiations between Newsom and Democrats in the Legislature, who have to pass a budget by the end of June.
—Trân Nguyễn, Fortune, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
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Noun
Schroeder said, outlining the NFL's thinking on setting a Super Bowl rematch as its kickoff game.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
But the league is also adding Thanksgiving Eve, because apparently if the NFL discovers Americans are already drinking somewhere, the league will eventually find a kickoff window.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026
Verb
And in February, Leavitt made her Broadway debut by kicking off a record-breaking run as the iconic Roxie Hart in Chicago.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
The budget proposal will officially kick off the final stretch of negotiations between Newsom and Democrats in the Legislature, who have to pass a budget by the end of June.
—Trân Nguyễn, Fortune, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
Cite this Entry
“Kickoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickoff. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kickoff
1 of 2 noun
kick·off
ˈkik-ˌȯf 
: a kick that puts the ball into play (as in soccer or football)
kick off
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)kik-ˈȯf
1
: to make a kickoff
2
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