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
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Apr. 2026
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Americans all over the country are preparing for the major kickoff this summer of a nationwide celebration that's been years in the making.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Two batters later, with the bases loaded, another ground ball kicked off Baty’s glove, allowing an unearned run to score.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
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Noun
Because fans traveling to matches from New York via train can only use Penn Station, the authority said that on match days, only riders with match tickets will be allowed between Penn Station and New Jersey’s Secaucus Junction starting four hours before kickoff.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Apr. 2026
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Americans all over the country are preparing for the major kickoff this summer of a nationwide celebration that's been years in the making.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
The race kicks off in below-freezing temperatures in Antarctica before runners travel to Cape Town, South Africa; Perth, Australia; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Algarve, Portugal; Cartagena, Colombia and finishing in Miami.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Two batters later, with the bases loaded, another ground ball kicked off Baty’s glove, allowing an unearned run to score.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 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 Apr. 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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