start off

phrasal verb

started off; starting off; starts off

1

: to start or cause (something) to start in a specified way

He started off by introducing himself.

She started off (her run) at a slow jog.

The performance started off badly.

—often + with

I started off my speech with a joke.

We started off the meal with shrimp cocktails.

The team started the season off with a 10-game winning streak.

2

: to have a specified quality, identity, job, etc., at the start

She started off as a sales assistant but is now the marketing director.

3

: to begin an important period in one's life or career

The house is perfect for a couple just starting off.

4

: to begin to move toward a particular place or in a particular direction

She ate breakfast before starting off for work.

5

: to cause (someone) to begin doing a particular activity or action

He started his daughter off on the piano.

The game-show host started her off with some easy questions.

Examples of start off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While a book may start off in one category, some books end up moving between the two. —Laura Dave, Time, 10 Jan. 2026

After all, some say the best love stories start off as friendships, specifically when there’s mutual support and laughter. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026

Breakfast at The Restaurant starts off strong with pastries prepared by the in-house French pastry chef, while later in the day, the menu tilts toward elevated Asian cuisine. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026

Timing out Saturday's rain Dry conditions will be in place to start off Saturday, but by the noon hour, rain starts advancing in. —Justin Lewis, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for start off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff