1
: the start of a race or an attack
2
: a jumping competition to break a tie at the end of regular competition (as in a horse show)

Examples of jump-off 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.
The deal with accountancy firm Oury Clark saved dozens of jobs and served as a jump-off point for Playhouse to supercharge its production wing. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025 On the challenging course at HITS Del Mar, only three out of a field of 36 horse-and-rider combinations advanced to the final jump-off. Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2025 This makes Saturday night an intriguing jump-off point. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 Days later, the stadium witnessed wild moments from the men’s high jump, which featured a jump-off between the U.S.’s Shelby McEwen and Hamish Kerr. Cory Mull, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024 The flagpole was the meeting point for protests; the trees were the party jump-off. Jazmine Hughes, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024 The two friends shared an emotional hug upon their decision to each take home a gold rather than move into a jump-off to determine a winner. Tanisha Bhat, Peoplemag, 1 July 2024 But season 2 would be some sort of fictional jump-off point of some kind. EW.com, 9 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of jump-off was in 1917

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Cite this Entry

“Jump-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jump-off. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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