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

His campaign started off like gangbusters in August, attracting huge crowds and millions in donations. —Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026

Its descriptively blunt autobiographical accounts of palpable angst start off reserved—but never boring—and slowly blossom into an explosive finish. —Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2026

For a regime that will need to construct its roster through the draft to start off, Sullivan could foreseeably invest his first draft pick on one of this year’s best cornerback or safety prospects. —David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026

Go Over the Family Pet Rules One way to start off on the right foot (or paw) is to have a family meeting about who’s going to do what to take care of the pet. —Katie Grant, Parents, 10 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for start off

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