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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kicked off
The season kicked off with Rhaenyra demanding vengeance against Aemond for killing her son Lucerys.
—
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
The event kicked off with the Marine Band’s performance of the national anthem, sung by Zac Brown, and was capped off with a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
The ceremony on Thursday, June 18, in Chicago kicked off a weekend of celebration as the center, which cost $850 million and took five years to build, opens its doors to the public on Juneteenth.
—Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 18 June 2026
The first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup also kicked off the FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park in Dallas.
—Cal Phillips
june 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
That kicked off a 13-0 run for the Knicks, who went on to outscore the Spurs 55-25 from that point on.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Kelce’s back in Kansas City for the Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp, which, per ESPN, kicked off on June 9 and concluded on Thursday, June 11.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 11 June 2026
Cast members from Taylor Sheridan’s Landman and The Madison crossed paths at Paramount+’s All Trails Lead Here event celebrating the two award-contending television shows that take place in Sheridan’s broader western universe that kicked off with Yellowstone.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 4 June 2026
But Democrats' gambit to eliminate the fund failed in a 49 to 50 vote on an amendment that kicked off the vote series.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
The event kicked off with the Marine Band’s performance of the national anthem, sung by Zac Brown, and was capped off with a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
The ceremony on Thursday, June 18, in Chicago kicked off a weekend of celebration as the center, which cost $850 million and took five years to build, opens its doors to the public on Juneteenth.
—Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 18 June 2026
The first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup also kicked off the FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park in Dallas.
—Cal Phillips
june 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
That kicked off a 13-0 run for the Knicks, who went on to outscore the Spurs 55-25 from that point on.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Kelce’s back in Kansas City for the Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp, which, per ESPN, kicked off on June 9 and concluded on Thursday, June 11.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 11 June 2026
Cast members from Taylor Sheridan’s Landman and The Madison crossed paths at Paramount+’s All Trails Lead Here event celebrating the two award-contending television shows that take place in Sheridan’s broader western universe that kicked off with Yellowstone.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 4 June 2026
But Democrats' gambit to eliminate the fund failed in a 49 to 50 vote on an amendment that kicked off the vote series.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicked off
Verb
-
After Iran played to a draw Sunday at SoFi Stadium, its second of the World Cup in as many matches, the team’s coach began his postmatch assessment by backing up six months.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
-
Young also noted that Iran’s Gulf neighbors will invest in pipelines to avoid oil flows through the strait, which allowed for the transit of 20 million barrels a day before the war began.—
Deva Lee,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
In August 2025, a horse collapsed and died in Manhattan after suffering an apparent aortic rupture, according to the Animal Welfare Institute, a non-profit organization.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
The incident came just days after a carriage horse named Deniz collapsed and died near West 72nd Street and West Drive while pulling tourists through the park.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
In preparation for the aircraft’s arrival next year, Qantas pilots have commenced training on Australia’s first A350 simulator in Sydney and with British Airways in the UK.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Years later, on May 24, 2011, Casey's trial commenced in Orlando.—
Kelsie Gibson,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Aalto University / Mahdi Asgari History is filled with stories of the great being felled by the puny.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 June 2026
-
And those are the lucky ones, who weren’t felled by late-season injuries and bumped from the tournament the way Brazil’s Rodrygo, Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma and Germany’s Serge Gnabry were.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Just as nine days of early voting started June 13, Conley became the latest target of attack ads linked to Republicans, who used similar tactics to influence voters in earlier Democratic primaries this year.—
Chris McKenna,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
-
What started as a handful of infested trees in Evergreen, Colorado, has turned into hundreds for landowner Jon Hager.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
Lucy passed away just a month before her second birthday from a brain hemorrhage — cancer-free.—
Siafa Lewis,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
My closest cousin recently passed away due to her age.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
In his car, Lestat is no longer able to repress his memories after having opened the floodgates.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
-
Kyle Stowers opened the scoring with a 426-foot homer in the second, and Otto López drove him in from first with a go-ahead double in the fourth.—
Tyler Carmona,
Miami Herald,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Vegas played much of the night without center William Karlsson, who was being checked out on the bench for an apparent upper-body injury.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Mac Jones did not throw Wednesday because of a sore shoulder that checked out clean and should be ready for training camp, which is expected to open July 25 or 26.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicked off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicked%20off. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
