leadoff

1 of 2

noun

lead·​off ˈlēd-ˌȯf 

1

: a beginning or leading action

2

: one that leads off

leadoff adjective

lead off

2 of 2

verb

ˈlēd- 

led off; leading off; leads off

intransitive verb

: begin

also : to come on or perform first

transitive verb

1

: to make a start on : open

2

: to bat first for a baseball team in (an inning)

Synonyms of leadoff

Verb

• begin
• commence
• start
• fall (to)
• set about
• get off
• embark (on or upon)
• get going
• open

Examples of leadoff in a Sentence

Verb

plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Xander Bogaerts drew a leadoff walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt before Machado hit a two-out line drive that fell in left. — ABC News, 24 July 2026

Kwan’s rebound has landed him back in the leadoff spot in recent days. — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Verb

With the Royals trailing 2-1, Perez led off the seventh inning with his 401-foot blast off Kyle Finnegan over the Tigers bullpen in left. — Dave Hogg, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026

The vote is the first procedural hurdle the state needed to clear to lead off the Democratic nominating calendar in 2028. — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 24 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1806, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for leadoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

leadoff

noun

lead·​off ˈlēd-ˌȯf 

1

: a beginning action

2

: one that begins something

leadoff adjective