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

Cole, in the 10th start of an arduous recovery from Tommy John surgery, had issued a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 18 July 2026

The Red Sox were at risk of being held to no more than two hits in a game for the first time this season when Ceddanne Rafaela greeted righty Devin Williams with a leadoff single in the ninth. — Gabrielle Starr, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2026

Verb

Lewis and Victor Caratini led off the bottom half with back-to-back doubles off Mitch Farris (0-1) and Alan Roden had an RBI single. — Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

The Cubs got within a run on an RBI base hit by Suzuki in the fifth before Kelly led off the sixth with a solo shot to center off Nick Lodolo. — ABC News, 11 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