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
Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
While the World Cup games will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, several World Cup kickoff events and celebrations will be held in New York, officials said.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2026
Bruno Mars has history in Las Vegas That Mars kicked off the nearly 80-date worldwide outing – his first stadium tour and his return to the road after almost a decade – in Las Vegas is more than happenstance.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
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Noun
The series will launch with a kickoff block party June 12 at 2000 Vine, featuring a large-scale match viewing, live DJs and a fan zone environment built around table soccer installations.
—Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
While the World Cup games will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, several World Cup kickoff events and celebrations will be held in New York, officials said.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
London Falling kicks off just as dramatically.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2026
Bruno Mars has history in Las Vegas That Mars kicked off the nearly 80-date worldwide outing – his first stadium tour and his return to the road after almost a decade – in Las Vegas is more than happenstance.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 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 13 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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