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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kick off
Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 20 June 2025
The membership pre-verification sale begins at 2 p.m. July 28, and ends July 30, with member presales kicking off later that day, according to the announcement on Weverse.
—Anna Chan, Billboard, 20 June 2025
Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world, and it’s become increasingly important in recent years as the unofficial kickoff to awards season.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Verb
The weekend kicks off Friday night with an invite-only Honoree Dinner hosted by platinum-selling rapper and TV personality Young Joc, celebrating Atlanta’s most influential voices in creativity, activism, and business.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 20 June 2025
The membership pre-verification sale begins at 2 p.m. July 28, and ends July 30, with member presales kicking off later that day, according to the announcement on Weverse.
—Anna Chan, Billboard, 20 June 2025
Noun
The match will be held on June 24 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, with kickoff at 7 p.m. ET.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world, and it’s become increasingly important in recent years as the unofficial kickoff to awards season.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
Verb
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Thomas officially began to practice and compete with the women's swimmers in Fall 2021.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2025
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Sacramento’s search for a point guard began as soon as the Kings hired Scott Perry as their new general manager.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Missing, however, was the museum’s founder Joseph Randall Shapiro, who died just days earlier at the age of 91. 2011: Ferocious winds spawned tornadoes that hit Downers Grove and Mount Prospect, but warning sirens in the communities remained silent.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2025
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If your team is afraid to disagree, if failure is punished, if new ideas die in PowerPoint—your culture needs rewiring.—
Bill Fischer,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
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Where To Spend, Who To Support From its humble beginnings to becoming a worldwide celebration, Pride has always been political.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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After missing four games due to a concussion and an illness at the beginning of June, Bueckers has been on a tear.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Iran had been in negotiations with the US for about two months, but called them off after Israel started bombing its territory.—
Sara Braun,
Fortune,
22 June 2025
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As per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, his 11 hitless innings to start his career broke the MLB record for a starting pitcher.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Verb
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However, that strategy could fall flat if Cuomo keeps his campaign alive.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2025
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The cost of some goods, such as toys and sporting goods, have risen, but those increases have been partly offset by falling prices for new cars, airline fares and apartment rentals, among other items.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Harvard University graduates attend the university’s 374th commencement ceremony on May 29, 2025 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
30 June 2025
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Alternative starting points could include the presentation of renderings, an application for permits, the purchasing of building supplies or the commencement of construction.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
30 June 2025
Verb
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In October 2022, the NFLPA commenced a System Arbitration alleging exactly that.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour, which commenced in 2022, launched a new North American leg in May with stadium dates through September.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Noun
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In the five years prior to the onset of the pandemic, the overall crime rate sat between 8 and 9.5 acts per 1,000 students.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2025
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Since then, city leaders added hundreds of new employees and, since the onset of the COVID pandemic, relied on one-time funding to balance the books.—
Daniel Borenstein,
Mercury News,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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