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

Riders can start off with a Short model, and then step up to a Mid flavor courtesy of an easy mod, and back again as needed. —New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2025

While Schlittler started off strong, Early was matching his energy, striking out five Yankees through his first round of the lineup. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025

The Mets started off the year looking like contenders, but fell apart down the stretch. —Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025

But just didn’t start off hot, and coach (Andy) Reid and the staff challenged us as players to be better. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for start off

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