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
Michelle Kaufman
may 29, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
The Game was meant to kick off at noon under a slate-gray sky, with a few snowflakes in the air and fans huddled up in the stands.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026
Minutes before kickoff, Peruvian political leaders entered the locker room and reminded the players of the importance of the nation’s strong relationship with Argentina.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Verb
Hard Rock Stadium, renamed Miami Stadium during the World Cup because FIFA prohibits display of non-affiliated sponsors, is hosting seven matches during the 48-team tournament, which kicks off June 11 and runs through July 19.
—Michelle Kaufman
may 29, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
The Game was meant to kick off at noon under a slate-gray sky, with a few snowflakes in the air and fans huddled up in the stands.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Noun
Board members spoke at the Measure V campaign kickoff event and at the campaign’s Election Night celebration.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026
Minutes before kickoff, Peruvian political leaders entered the locker room and reminded the players of the importance of the nation’s strong relationship with Argentina.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
Verb
-
The punitive phase of the civil trial began Thursday, after jurors determined that Grossman had acted with malice and oppression and Erickson with malice, oppression or fraud.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Many before Labīd and many after him across the long arc of Arabic, have begun their poems by standing upon ruins.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Australia's only other fatal shark attack this year occurred in January, when a 12-year-old boy died in a hospital days after he was mauled by a bull shark in Sydney Harbor.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
-
In January, a 12-year-old also died a week after he was attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbor.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
City Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy began raising the issue at the beginning of this month, and saw their resolution calling on the mayor to restore the cut backed, by an 11-0 vote, by the City Council.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Lewis will be eligible to return to the major league roster for the beginning of a three-game series against the White Sox that starts Monday at Target Field.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The four men still trapped have started to show health problems, including skin, stomach and intestinal issues.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Aranda followed with his 10th homer, but the Rays (35-19) were just getting started.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Verb
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For the Fever, who entered the season as championship contenders, the first 10 games have fallen well short of expectations, as scrutiny continues to mount on head coach Stephanie White.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
-
Migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands peaked in 2024 at nearly 47,000, but have fallen dramatically, with just over 2,000 people landing there in the first four months of 2026.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
On college campuses, commencement speakers have been interrupted by boos when discussing artificial intelligence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
-
Since living at the home, Muneer-Hunter has helped design and build the Oasis Deck, studied hard to make the dean's list, mentored inner-city youth, and even served as the commencement speaker at his graduation.—
Rina Nakano,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Homer Gere, Yvonne Chapman, Ellen Barkin, Willem Dafoe and Michael Douglas have rounded out the cast of Oliver Stone‘s upcoming pic White Lies as principal photography commences.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
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Mercury’s pre-retrograde shadow (the weeks leading up to the celestial backspin when the planet slows down), which began on June 13 in water Cancer, starts the story for the planet’s moonwalk that commences on June 29.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
One of the protagonists of Portugal’s Nations League triumph was Diogo Jota, who passed away alongside his brother in a tragic car accident last year.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
The Buffaloes are, as promised by promoters, a power conference foe for the Aztecs in the inaugural game honoring San Diego native Bill Walton, who passed away in May 2024.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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