tee off

verb

teed off; teeing off; tees off

intransitive verb

1

: to drive from a tee

2

: begin, start

3

: to hit hard

4

: to make an angry denunciation

—often used with on

Examples of tee off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With Walker contained, the Chiefs had to turn to the pass, opening the door for the Seahawks’ talented front to tee off on quarterback Patrick Mahomes. — Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026

Hot Topic is taking band tees off the wall and bringing them center stage. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026

Charming staff move seamlessly, offering tea, telling you about golf tee off times and babysitters, while the Mediterranean winks at the horizon. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Golfers tee off at Lost Marsh Golf Course in Hammond on May 13, 2026, with the backdrop of BP Whiting Refinery and Lake Michigan. — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tee off

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

Kids Definition

tee off

verb

1

: to hit a golf ball from a tee in starting play on a hole

2

: begin sense 1, start