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
A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
The kickoff for the series is July 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bushnell Park carousel.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
Sam Blum, New York Times, 22 June 2025
If cheerleaders were caught dating players, they were allegedly kicked off the team.
—Emily Krauser, People.com, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Johnson’s budget team briefed reporters and members of the City Council on the figures Monday afternoon, a kickoff to the fall budget season.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
The kickoff for the series is July 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bushnell Park carousel.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
Verb
Earlier this month, immigration raids kicked off a wave of protests elsewhere in Los Angeles and across the country.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 22 June 2025
If cheerleaders were caught dating players, they were allegedly kicked off the team.
—Emily Krauser, People.com, 21 June 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 6 Jul. 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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