start off

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

Speaking of the adventure itself, The King XXL started off slowly, swinging to the left and right like a pendulum. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

The Shooting Stars breakdown Details The Shooting Stars competition starts off the proceedings. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Though their relationship started off friendly because of their different stances on having kids, things began to shift after a few months of seeing each other casually. — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026

After all, 2016 Dolphins first-round pick Laremy Tunsil also started off at guard before making his move to tackle. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2026

Rhymes for start off

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