leadoff
adjective
led off; leading off; leads off
: begin
also
: to come on or perform first
Synonyms
Examples of leadoff in a Sentence
Verb
plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Left fielder Judah Tillman scored the Grizzlies’ first run when leadoff hitter Jaelyn Vejar slapped a single into right field.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Max Muncy, who had twice struck out earlier in the game with runners in scoring position, drew a leadoff walk that was aided by a Padres pitch-clock violation (San Diego’s staff, stunningly, committed four of them in the game).
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
At the plate: Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, hitting leadoff, had a big day for the Rockies.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 29 Feb. 2024
In Betts’ case this year, it will all be compounded by his significant offensive responsibilities as the team’s leadoff hitter.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Taylor Rogers gave the Giants a scoreless fifth inning after walking the leadoff batter, then his brother took over the sixth, allowed a leadoff double to Jackson Chourio and forced three groundouts (one of which scored Chourio).
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024
Players such as freshman Mattea Stern, who is expected to play left field and bat leadoff, and second baseman Malia Cuevas, a transfer from Los Alamitos.
—Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 7 Feb. 2024
New Hampshire rejected the DNC’s plan and held a leadoff primary last month anyway.
—TIME, 4 Feb. 2024
Dana Gauruder, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
The one hit, though, was a home run by Mookie Betts, leading off the bottom of the first inning.
—Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 30 Mar. 2024
Pinch-hitter Travis Jankowski led off the Rangers’ ninth with a solo home run to right field to tie the game 3-3 and send the first game of the season into extra innings.
—David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2024
After the Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow made quick work of the Cardinals in the top of the first, Mookie Betts led off for L.A. against the Cardinals’ thirty-five-year-old pitcher Miles Mikolas.
—Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
In the top of the seventh, Josh Hughes led off with a single.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024
The Giants trailed 3-0 in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Nick Allen, whose fly out scored Lawrence Butler, who triple to lead off the inning off Camilo Doval.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2024
Porter led off the inning by launching a shot that cleared the left field fence quickly.
—Steve Fryer, Orange County Register, 23 Mar. 2024
Kennedy Miller, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh inning, provided the only baserunner for the Razorbacks over the final three innings.
—Ethan Westerman, arkansasonline.com, 23 Mar. 2024
Noun
In the top of the first, the Cubs’ three leadoff hitters reached on a double, walk and ground-ball single on the infield.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Left fielder Judah Tillman scored the Grizzlies’ first run when leadoff hitter Jaelyn Vejar slapped a single into right field.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Max Muncy, who had twice struck out earlier in the game with runners in scoring position, drew a leadoff walk that was aided by a Padres pitch-clock violation (San Diego’s staff, stunningly, committed four of them in the game).
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
At the plate: Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, hitting leadoff, had a big day for the Rockies.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 29 Feb. 2024
In Betts’ case this year, it will all be compounded by his significant offensive responsibilities as the team’s leadoff hitter.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Taylor Rogers gave the Giants a scoreless fifth inning after walking the leadoff batter, then his brother took over the sixth, allowed a leadoff double to Jackson Chourio and forced three groundouts (one of which scored Chourio).
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024
Players such as freshman Mattea Stern, who is expected to play left field and bat leadoff, and second baseman Malia Cuevas, a transfer from Los Alamitos.
—Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 7 Feb. 2024
New Hampshire rejected the DNC’s plan and held a leadoff primary last month anyway.
—TIME, 4 Feb. 2024
Verb
Vierling led off with his first homer of the season.
—Dana Gauruder, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
The one hit, though, was a home run by Mookie Betts, leading off the bottom of the first inning.
—Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 30 Mar. 2024
Pinch-hitter Travis Jankowski led off the Rangers’ ninth with a solo home run to right field to tie the game 3-3 and send the first game of the season into extra innings.
—David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2024
After the Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow made quick work of the Cardinals in the top of the first, Mookie Betts led off for L.A. against the Cardinals’ thirty-five-year-old pitcher Miles Mikolas.
—Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
In the top of the seventh, Josh Hughes led off with a single.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024
The Giants trailed 3-0 in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Nick Allen, whose fly out scored Lawrence Butler, who triple to lead off the inning off Camilo Doval.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2024
Porter led off the inning by launching a shot that cleared the left field fence quickly.
—Steve Fryer, Orange County Register, 23 Mar. 2024
Kennedy Miller, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh inning, provided the only baserunner for the Razorbacks over the final three innings.
—Ethan Westerman, arkansasonline.com, 23 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leadoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
circa 1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1806, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Dictionary Entries Near leadoff
Cite this Entry
“Leadoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leadoff. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
leadoff
noun
lead·off
ˈlēd-ˌȯf 
1
: a beginning action
2
: one that begins something
leadoff
adjective
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