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
Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
In earlier work, Rosenblatt’s team watched as some cells dumped their water and shriveled up like raisins before being extruded; indeed, this shrinkage seemed to kick off the process.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Sunderland was a kickoff specialist for the Wolverines last season, with 44 touchbacks in 71 attempts last season.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Verb
After the end of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games kick off in Verona, with additional venues in Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Tesero.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
In earlier work, Rosenblatt’s team watched as some cells dumped their water and shriveled up like raisins before being extruded; indeed, this shrinkage seemed to kick off the process.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
But special teams were inconsistent among roughing the punter and running into the punter penlaties, allowing a kickoff return touchdown immediately after recording a punt return touchdown, and failing to recover an onside kick.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Sunderland was a kickoff specialist for the Wolverines last season, with 44 touchbacks in 71 attempts last season.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
Verb
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The legal friction began last year when the board proposed a massive renovation to expand clubhouse amenities in early 2024.—
Chase Jordan
January 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Crowds and traffic became such an issue that in 2021, the park began requiring weekend visitors during the February Firefall dates to have reservations as a way to limit congestion and prevent crowds from trampling stream banks and parking illegally along Yosemite Valley’s sensitive meadows.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By 1971, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Brian Jones had all died at the age of twenty-seven from drugs and alcohol.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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This year's awards season promises to deliver more inspiration, but in the meantime, do yourself a favor an invest in a quality round brush, some styling gel or pomade, and a ride-or-die can of hairspray.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Indiana went on a 14-1 run in the third to take the lead from Nebraska (14-2, 3-2) for the first time since the beginning of the game, leading briefly at 51-49.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
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As for the Lady Kate, Furrer said the 110-foot boat stopped cruising at the beginning of the pandemic.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Amazon quietly discounted dozens of top picks from Stewart’s collection, including Dutch ovens, knife sets, oven mitts, and more, with prices starting at just $8 and discounts going for up to 60 percent off.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
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The second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft wasn’t the Saints’ guy to start the season.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The 1971 Vikings were the other team, and Minnesota wound up falling at home to Dallas in its initial playoff contest.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
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In witness footage shared by the police, the paraglider is seen falling from the sky with a faulty parachute and spiraling quickly towards the waters below, before smashing into the ocean in front of horrified beachgoers.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The inspirational book was adapted from the former Navy SEAL’s viral 2014 commencement speech for the University of Texas.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
30 Dec. 2025
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Oakland University, in Rochester, Michigan, says fall commencement services will take place as planned, despite recent campus building closings related to problems with its high-temperature hot water pipe system.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The bombardment of political ads will commence this week.—
Paul Miller,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Officials then searched the children’s home and commenced an air and ground search.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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To save humankind, a geophysicist living with early-onset Alzheimer’s is recruited to investigate the vast void swallowing the oceans.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
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The onset of elevated inflation alongside sluggish hiring has put the Fed in a difficult position.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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