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
Glen DeCecco, a former state command sergeant major of the Rhode Island National Guard, took in the atmosphere with his friend, Joe Forge, across Route 1, three hours before the Wild Card matchup kicked off.
—
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
The 2026 Awards Season has officially kicked off with the 83rd annual Golden Globes.
—Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
Johnson and the Bears’ players celebrated in the locker room as Johnson kicked off his postgame speech with an explicit message.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Homeland Security kicked off Operation Metro Surge last month, which officials say led to more than 1,000 arrests.
—Riley Moser, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
The concert series kicked off in Mexico City in April.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Madrid’s players took part in last weekend’s protests against the Miami game, standing still when their game at Getafe kicked off last Sunday.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The secret concert marked the final stop on Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour, which kicked off in early 2024 in Palm Springs and has since spanned over 75 dates across North America and Europe.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2025
The premiere episode of Boston Blue kicked off the next chapter of the Blue Bloods saga on CBS.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
The 2026 Awards Season has officially kicked off with the 83rd annual Golden Globes.
—Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
Johnson and the Bears’ players celebrated in the locker room as Johnson kicked off his postgame speech with an explicit message.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Homeland Security kicked off Operation Metro Surge last month, which officials say led to more than 1,000 arrests.
—Riley Moser, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
The concert series kicked off in Mexico City in April.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Madrid’s players took part in last weekend’s protests against the Miami game, standing still when their game at Getafe kicked off last Sunday.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The secret concert marked the final stop on Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour, which kicked off in early 2024 in Palm Springs and has since spanned over 75 dates across North America and Europe.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2025
The premiere episode of Boston Blue kicked off the next chapter of the Blue Bloods saga on CBS.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicked off
Verb
-
The protest comes amid ongoing unrest in Iran, where demonstrations that began over economic grievances have spread nationwide, evolving into a direct challenge to Iran's clerical leadership.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Using products by celeb-favorite skin care brand iS Clinical, Flores began by cleansing Williams' skin with the lightweight Cleansing Complex before spraying his skin with a Copper Firming Mist.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His car was later found abandoned on the Charlestown Bridge, where he was believed to have died by suicide.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
-
In a news release shared by the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, officials said that they were called to assist the California Highway Patrol with the ducks after they were found inside a box truck whose owner or guardian had died.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Officials then searched the children’s home and commenced an air and ground search.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In 2012, whiskey production commenced at the distillery, with bottles hitting the market a few years later.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For about a month, nobody had any idea who had felled the tree, and nobody could work out why it had been done.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
The greatest damage appeared concentrated in the North Bay, where gusty winds felled numerous trees.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
24 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The year started with a four-day streak of 70-degree highs; however, Oklahoma will soon see temperatures dip a bit into the mid-50s and 60s at the start of next week, with some parts of the state expecting snow.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Sean Kuraly had a goal and an assist, Tanner Jeannot had two assists, and the Boston Bruins started a five-game homestand with a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Yolanda and Dexter both passed away, the former on May 15, 2007 — just a year after their mother's death in January 2006.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The dog passed away later that evening.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pruneyard Cinemas opened to a lot of fanfare in 2018, but its owners have been running uphill — and losing ground — since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The business initially opened as a supply store, then added a taproom and eventually a restaurant.—
Janice Phelan,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The outlet also said that Simmons was taken to a hospital after the accident to be checked out.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Now, a recent Urban performance has resurfaced that points to, if not that, at least the fact that the singer was mentally checked out a while ago.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kicked off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicked%20off. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
