1
as in began
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 died
slang
to stop living
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kicked off
The city’s first festival dedicated exclusively to comedy on screen kicked off earlier this week.
—
Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Amid a whirlwind 36 hours within the Major League Baseball Players Association, new interim executive director Bruce Meyer and MLBPA personnel kicked off their annual spring training visits that brought them to the Chicago Cubs complex Wednesday afternoon.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
What really infuriates me about that moment, however, is that Rod’s comment was kicked off by Salley talking about her connection with Austen.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
Last season’s championship games kicked off every morning before the tackle football championships at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
—Jack Leo, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
The surge of inspiration kicked off a burst of writing that came at the perfect time for the Boston band.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Paris Couture Week, which the American designer’s Monday morning show kicked off, is for fantasy.
—CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Tuesday’s discussion kicked off a yearlong planning push that would take years — or even decades — to fully realize.
—Mark Dee
january 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
The Frost scoring kicked off with defender Kendall Cooper’s first career PWHL goal, just under five minutes into the game.
—Theodore Tollefson, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2026
Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Amid a whirlwind 36 hours within the Major League Baseball Players Association, new interim executive director Bruce Meyer and MLBPA personnel kicked off their annual spring training visits that brought them to the Chicago Cubs complex Wednesday afternoon.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
What really infuriates me about that moment, however, is that Rod’s comment was kicked off by Salley talking about her connection with Austen.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
Last season’s championship games kicked off every morning before the tackle football championships at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
—Jack Leo, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
The surge of inspiration kicked off a burst of writing that came at the perfect time for the Boston band.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Paris Couture Week, which the American designer’s Monday morning show kicked off, is for fantasy.
—CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Tuesday’s discussion kicked off a yearlong planning push that would take years — or even decades — to fully realize.
—Mark Dee
january 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
The Frost scoring kicked off with defender Kendall Cooper’s first career PWHL goal, just under five minutes into the game.
—Theodore Tollefson, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicked off
Verb
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The filmmaker grew particularly animated by the time the final award was announced, more than three hours after the ceremony began.—
Emily Zemler,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The creatures rapidly spread along the interconnected coastal highways of a changing world, colonizing new habitats just as the Age of Dinosaurs began around 252 million years ago.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The suspect died after being shot by an arriving deputy.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Tilly was the latest in a long line of children who have died while under the supervision of the Department of Children and Family Services, or DCFS.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As previously reported by FN, Pedro García’s 100th anniversary celebrations commenced in 2025 with a range of endeavors including a special capsule collection called Essentia, in-store pop-ins, the aforementioned commemorative book and a series of exclusive events.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Tied heavily to the moon's phases, the Lunar New Year has commenced this week as adherents usher in the Year of the Horse with a variety of cultural traditions.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi received death threats after centuries-old trees were felled to make way for a $131 million bobsledding track.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
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Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Spurs started slowly but grew into the game.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers started 7 of 14 from the field to lead 18-14 through one quarter and shot 56% in the half to eventually build a double-digit advantage and lead 41-30 at the break.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Not long after, a key figure in the eagles’ relationship with the public, Sandy Steers, passed away after a private battle with cancer.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
It was not immediately known how Grant passed away.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ryan Gerard, 26, opened with consecutive second-place finishes.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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The seventh-place Rams (17-10, 8-8) opened the game 1 of 10 on 3s and finished with 13, the most allowed by the Aztecs this season in regulation.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Paramedics checked out three people, but none went to the hospital.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Soon, however, Sarah began not feeling well and her OBGYN told her to get checked out at a hospital.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicked off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicked%20off. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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