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
• 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

Horton allowed a home run on the second pitch of the game when New York’s leadoff hitter, Francisco Lindor, drilled a 97 mph fastball into the bleachers. —Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025

His leadoff homer in the fourth off of Los Angeles right-hander Caden Dana put the Rockies ahead, 2-1. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025

Verb

Francisco Lindor led off the game with a home run and drove in two other runs with a groundout in the fifth inning and a single in the sixth. —Will Sammon, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025

Without Laureano or Tatis in the lineup, Bryce Johnson will get the start in left field and bat eighth, Luis Arraez will lead off and play first base and Ryan O’Hearn will get his third start in right field since joining the Padres. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 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