leadoff

1 of 2

noun

lead·​off ˈlēd-ˌȯf How to pronounce leadoff (audio)
1
: a beginning or leading action
2
: one that leads off
leadoff adjective

lead off

2 of 2

verb

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)

Examples of leadoff in a Sentence

Verb plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Ashby worked around a leadoff walk of Shohei Ohtani, but recovered to retire the side. Andy McCullough, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025 After allowing a leadoff single in the top of the third, Snell picked off Caleb Durbin. Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
The song meant enough to them to lead off the album, with its lyrics front and center on the cover. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025 Betts led off with a single to left. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leadoff

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1806, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of leadoff was in 1806

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leadoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leadoff. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

leadoff

noun
lead·​off ˈlēd-ˌȯf How to pronounce leadoff (audio)
1
: a beginning action
2
: one that begins something
leadoff adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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