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
-
Sunday’s border battle at Wisconsin began in an inauspicious manner for the Minnesota women’s basketball team.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Just hours after bombs began raining down on Oahu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, two FBI agents arrived unannounced at Nikki Nojima Louis’ home in Seattle’s Japantown.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Five people have died, and dozens of others were injured after a massive pileup of more than 30 vehicles in Colorado, officials say.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
-
In Beltrami County, one person died Monday night when a house burned to the ground in rural Port Hope Township, north of Bemidji.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
19 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
-
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
-
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
-
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,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Minnesota started slow and trailed the host Badgers 18-8 late in the first quarter.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
My father-in-law, who had Alzheimer’s, passed away a few years ago.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Jackson passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The company originates from a small tea shop in Taiwan opened in 1996 by a man named Zhen-hua Wu.—
Ernestine Siu,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Koda Holeman opened the match by defeating Jeremiah Reno by technical fall 17-2.—
Michael Harley,
Arkansas Online,
16 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 23 Feb. 2026.
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