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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of kicked off
Lamont kicked off a Wednesday afternoon press conference with a tour of the factory at Fascia’s Chocolates in Waterbury, which churns out 100,000 lbs.
—
Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 16 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
In 2024 he was given his first comprehensive institutional solo exhibition in Europe, which kicked off at the Fridericianum in Kassel before traveling to Kunsthalle Bern in 2025 and Palais de Tokyo in 2026.
—News Desk, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
Last year, shortly after Springsteen kicked off his European Land of Hope and Dreams Tour with an anti-Trump speech, the president responded with a post on Truth Social.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
That warming trend kicked off amid March’s record-breaking heat wave and is expected to intensify during this year’s strong El Niño cycle.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
European stocks kicked off the month with a major rebound .
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
Sweeney Bell had a tepid response, however, to a recent controversy in which dozens of local Democrats were kicked off the ballot for breaking an Indiana Democratic Party rule.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
And then the match kicked off, Newcastle were passive and on the back foot, and the idea of football as an academic exercise was obliterated.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 16 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
In 2024 he was given his first comprehensive institutional solo exhibition in Europe, which kicked off at the Fridericianum in Kassel before traveling to Kunsthalle Bern in 2025 and Palais de Tokyo in 2026.
—News Desk, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
Last year, shortly after Springsteen kicked off his European Land of Hope and Dreams Tour with an anti-Trump speech, the president responded with a post on Truth Social.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
That warming trend kicked off amid March’s record-breaking heat wave and is expected to intensify during this year’s strong El Niño cycle.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
European stocks kicked off the month with a major rebound .
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
Sweeney Bell had a tepid response, however, to a recent controversy in which dozens of local Democrats were kicked off the ballot for breaking an Indiana Democratic Party rule.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
And then the match kicked off, Newcastle were passive and on the back foot, and the idea of football as an academic exercise was obliterated.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicked off
Verb
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Across forty-five years, my course began that way.—
John McPhee,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
No tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz today, according to tracking data, making Sunday one of the quietest days in the waterway since the conflict began.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lillo himself died in 2021, leaving Block to carry on his legacy.—
John Lauritsen,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
His cousin died, while he and his brother were injured.—
Daniel S. Levine,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Netflix also shared other casting info as the shoot commenced.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Additionally, a barely visible scar on her forehead was left from falling asleep in the well as drilling commenced.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the piece, the Vicar of Christ is felled not by his oppressors but rather by a random cosmic event.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
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Jeff Shell, now felled from his presidency of Paramount, is living proof.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Power-play push The Lightning started the game 0 for 3 on the power play, running their woeful man-advantage run to 1 for 35 over the past 12 games.—
Eduardo Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
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Clinton has only started two WSL games and missed this camp through injury.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kamryn passed away on September 5, 2007, just a month shy of her ninth birthday.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Adding to her woes, her Moroccan Jewish grandmother has just passed away, leaving her with only a family ring with mysterious powers.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Crochet opened the fifth at 60 pitches and got two quick strikeouts before leadoff man Jahmai Jones’ solo homer gave Detroit a 2-1 lead.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This is not the first time Denver Book Society owner Rich Garvin has been involved in a disagreement over the new store’s name – a book swap organization started in 2022 called the Denver Book Swap Society also shared concerns about the similar names before Garvin’s store opened in February.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 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
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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 20 Apr. 2026.
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