1
as in to begin
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
I'll kick off the discussion on ethics with this question
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to die
slang
to stop living
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beginning
the point at which something begins
a political cycle in which an election marks not only the end of one campaign but also the kickoff for the next one
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kick off
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
With spring semester kicking off this week, enrollment at Austin Community College grew again with nearly 41,000 students taking credit classes this semester.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The energy starts hours before kickoff, with some locations opening their doors early for fans eager to secure a seat.
—Kennedy Cook, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Verb
The North American tour dates kick off on June 3 in Vancouver and continue through July 24, when the trek wraps in Miami.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
With spring semester kicking off this week, enrollment at Austin Community College grew again with nearly 41,000 students taking credit classes this semester.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
Bad Bunny will play the halftime show while Green Day will perform ahead of the kickoff.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The energy starts hours before kickoff, with some locations opening their doors early for fans eager to secure a seat.
—Kennedy Cook, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
Verb
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What began as a performance became a collective release.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
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What began in Tehran late December in response to the collapse in currency and economic conditions quickly took on a political character -- with crowds on the streets openly calling for regime change.—
Somayeh Malekian,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Vince Gill, the country star who joined the band after original member Glenn Frey died in 2016, shouldered most of the load caused by Walsh’s absence.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
25 Jan. 2026
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The co-worker said Pretti researched how to prevent veterans from dying from colon cancer.—
Jeff Winter,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The beginning of the year is often the time for contemplation and action.—
Heather L. Locus,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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Near the beginning of the site’s trail, a replica village contains several ‘ewaas, which are traditional Kumeyaay homes.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Brown started 2-for-11 from the field before closing the half with a 3-pointer and a driving layup — his first field-goal attempt of the game from inside 9 feet.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
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Just as the capital started to recover from the damage and heat began to return to people’s homes, Russia launched its largest strike of the year so far, firing more than 30 missiles and 339 drones overnight into Tuesday.—
Svitlana Vlasova,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The cold air is then expected to stay in place through the beginning of February, ensuring that whatever snow falls this weekend will stay on the ground for a while.—
Matthew Villafane,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Only one other player has been ever elected by the writers with 1,500 or fewer hits — Roy Campanella (1,422) in 1969 — and that total falls far short of the average career hit mark for all Hall of Fame batters, which is 2,330.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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By moving some commencements away from increasingly costly private sites, the financially ailing school district could have saved about half a million dollars a year.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
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Elyce Arons, founder and chief executive officer of Frances Valentine, will deliver the keynote address to the Class of 2026 at LIM College‘s annual commencement.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In his late 20s at the time, Murdoch was commencing a staggering hot streak that would last roughly a decade.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Pitchfork,
22 Jan. 2026
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Dinner commences in a cool and calm underground lounge before moving upstairs to another intimate locale.—
Wendy Altschuler,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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While Rodgers had a relatively productive first season with the Steelers, the 42-year-old quarterback is undoubtedly much closer to the sunset of his storied career than the onset.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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This could be a sign of early-onset supplement psychosis.—
Alyssa Brandt,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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