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
Relevance
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
Several times in the last couple of decades, Microsoft has released source code for the original MS-DOS operating system that kicked off its decades-long dominance of consumer PCs.
—
Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
The achievement kicked off an age of discovery in genetics, with researchers racing to decode the genomes of other pathogens—and eventually animals.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026
Kylie, meanwhile, kicked off her fashion show modeling career with Avril Lavigne's Abbey Dawn line.
—Emily Kirkpatrick, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Hayden Homes kicked off the campaign Wednesday with a $100,000 donation to a library in Walla Walla, Washington, following the advocacy of customers in the area, Murphy said.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2026
The park's 120th operating season, which kicked off April 3, was marred by several fights between groups of teens, culminating in three arrests.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Rain continued as the match kicked off.
—Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026
The event kicked off on Wednesday, April 22, with waves showing up strong for the early rounds and dozens of sponsors setting up booths on the sand for beachgoers and surf fans expected to hang out through the end of the event on Sunday, April 26.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
The City of Chicago on Thursday kicked off bus tours as part of its new reparations initiative.
—Aida Mogos, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
The achievement kicked off an age of discovery in genetics, with researchers racing to decode the genomes of other pathogens—and eventually animals.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026
Kylie, meanwhile, kicked off her fashion show modeling career with Avril Lavigne's Abbey Dawn line.
—Emily Kirkpatrick, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Hayden Homes kicked off the campaign Wednesday with a $100,000 donation to a library in Walla Walla, Washington, following the advocacy of customers in the area, Murphy said.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2026
The park's 120th operating season, which kicked off April 3, was marred by several fights between groups of teens, culminating in three arrests.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Rain continued as the match kicked off.
—Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026
The event kicked off on Wednesday, April 22, with waves showing up strong for the early rounds and dozens of sponsors setting up booths on the sand for beachgoers and surf fans expected to hang out through the end of the event on Sunday, April 26.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
The City of Chicago on Thursday kicked off bus tours as part of its new reparations initiative.
—Aida Mogos, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicked off
Verb
-
Chase Meidroth began the inning with a single.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Hoagland handed me a small metal detector—the Minelab Gold Monster 2000—and began his lesson.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Agustín, an elderly man who lived on the streets and had mental health problems, died in February from burns inflicted by an 18-year-old who was later arrested.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated April 29,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
After Michael died in 2009, his three children — Prince, Paris and Bigi Jackson — moved to Hayvenhurst to be raised by their grandmother, Katherine.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Since the season commenced in Australia in March, the F1 WAGs have made their presence known as they've been seen alongside their partners in the paddock and cheering from the stands during races.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
As filming commenced, unforeseen complexities piled up to the sky.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But before he was felled at age 68 by a heart attack, Joiner had shared what was in the briefcase with the lead Louisiana State Police investigator on the case, Stefan Montgomery, Joiner's son and the LSP confirmed.—
Stephanie Gosk,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
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John Adams famously wrote to his wife, Abigail, that smallpox was killing 10 soldiers for every one felled in battle.—
Katrine L. Wallace,
The Conversation,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Carolyn Hax started her Washington Post advice column in 1997, after five years on the Style desk and none as a therapist.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
15 May 2026
-
Charlotte pitcher Shane Smith, who started opening day for the Sox, suffered a right rotator cuff strain.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
But López-Calleja passed away unexpectedly in 2022 from a heart attack.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
My husband passed away last October.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The storefront, which opened in 1852, supplied early miners with dynamite and Studebaker wheelbarrows.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The White Sox opened the seventh with three straight hits, including Edgar Quero's RBI single that chased King.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Four people were checked out by medical personnel at the scene, according to police, who said that none of the individuals were shot.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Lamar Odom has reportedly checked out of rehab after completing a 30-day program following his DUI arrest earlier this year.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicked off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicked%20off. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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