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
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2025
The kickoff of the anniversary will also bring six new anniversary-specific merchandise collections to the park.
—Megan Dubois, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Mario Manca, Glamour, 4 May 2025
After kicking off last June as part of Fête de La Musique in Paris, Wales Bonner brought the event to New York on Saturday ahead of her Met Gala debut on Monday.
—Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
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Noun
Just three months before the kickoff of Combs' trial, attorney Anthony Ricco withdrew from the rapper's legal team on Feb. 21.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2025
The kickoff of the anniversary will also bring six new anniversary-specific merchandise collections to the park.
—Megan Dubois, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
Before kicking off her new world tour, Lady Gaga sets a new record: with 2.5 million people in attendance, her show on Brazil' Copacabana Beach is reportedly the biggest independent concert by a female artist ever.
—Mario Manca, Glamour, 4 May 2025
After kicking off last June as part of Fête de La Musique in Paris, Wales Bonner brought the event to New York on Saturday ahead of her Met Gala debut on Monday.
—Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
Cite this Entry
“Kickoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickoff. Accessed 10 May. 2025.
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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