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

Verb

• begin
• commence
• embark (on or upon)
• enter (into or upon)
• fall (to)
• get off
• kick off
• launch
• open
• start
• strike (into)

Examples of leadoff in a Sentence

Verb

plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Chicago White Sox starter Sean Burke began Friday’s game at Rate Field by walking Texas Rangers leadoff hitter Sam Haggerty on four pitches. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025

The 27-year-old right-hander allowed a leadoff home run to Ketel Marte in the fourth, but that was his only blemish in a dominant performance. —Kyle Glaser, Oc Register, 22 May 2025

Verb

The game had the look of a pitchers’ duel going into the ninth inning with first-place Philadelphia leading 1-0 thanks to a home run from Trea Turner leading off the game. —Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2025

Pitching well up until then, Paddack got in trouble with walks, issuing a pair of them after allowing a single to lead off the frame. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 21 May 2025

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