Definition of kickoff
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
kick off
verb
kicked off; kicking off; kicks off
Definition of kick off (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to start or resume play in football by a placekick
2a
: to initiate proceedings
b
: to start out : begin
the movie kicks off with a bank robbery
: to mark the beginning of
kick off the campaign
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for kickoff
The first known use of kickoff was in 1856
See more words from the same year