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

After a leadoff groundout, Gavin Klein doubled down the left field line and Will Rose was intentionally walked. —Miami Herald, 7 June 2025

The star shortstop and leadoff hitter was hit by a slider from right-hander Tony Gonsolin in the first inning of Wednesday night’s 6-1 win, with the pitch breaking his right pinky toe. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025

Verb

Jonathan India is leading off, followed by Bobby Witt Jr., as has been the case most of the season. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2025

But after walking Mike Trout to lead off the ninth, Cooper Criswell (1-0) got the next three batters out to give Boston a chance to walk it off. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 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