Synonyms of kick off

kick off 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to begin

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

• begin
• start
• commence
• fall (to)
• set about
• get off
• strike (into)
• get going
• open
• found
• lead off
• enter (into or upon)
• get to
• launch
• embark (on or upon)
• create
• initiate
• generate
• get around (to)
• originate
• take up
• adopt
• organize
• get down (to)
• establish
• invent
• pioneer
• institute
• take on
• inaugurate
• set up
• innovate
• get round (to)
• father
• spawn
• embrace

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• end
• finish
• conclude
• stop
• terminate
• cease
• complete
• discontinue
• quit
• halt
• lay off
• close
• leave
• knock off
• abandon
• desist
• destroy
• abolish
• forsake
• extinguish
• phase out
• exterminate
• demolish

2

as in to die

slang to stop living

surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off

Synonyms & Similar Words

• die
• fall
• pass (on)
• pass away
• perish
• check out
• buy it
• step out
• kick in
• depart
• pop off
• succumb
• peg out
• end
• demise
• disappear
• exit
• go
• expire
• snuff it
• part
• kick the bucket
• bite the dust
• give up the ghost
• fade
• drop
• decease
• conk (out)
• croak
• flatline
• dry up
• fail
• consume
• predecease

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• live
• come to
• breathe
• be
• revive
• exist
• linger
• flourish
• thrive
• subsist
• prosper

kickoff

2 of 2

noun

ˈkik-ˌȯf 

as in beginning

the point at which something begins

a political cycle in which an election marks not only the end of one campaign but also the kickoff for the next one

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beginning
• start
• commencement
• onset
• inception
• launch
• alpha
• baseline
• genesis
• dawn
• outset
• morning
• threshold
• inauguration
• birth
• initiation
• day one
• infancy
• nascence
• origination
• arrival
• nascency
• founding
• get-go
• spring
• incipience
• incipiency
• opening
• origin
• debut
• drawing board
• creation
• emergence
• first base
• ground zero
• institution
• dawning
• advent
• cradle
• fountain
• well
• childhood
• appearance
• source
• germ
• square one
• root
• youth
• seedbed
• fountainhead
• wellspring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• end
• conclusion
• close
• ending
• period
• completion
• closing
• termination
• finish
• closure
• stop
• cessation
• finale
• omega
• windup

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of kick off

Verb

In 2025, Bonnaroo kicked off on schedule, but more heavy rains ultimately led to the cancellation of the remainder of the festival and sent thousands of disgruntled fans packing up early. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

The studio projects an opening weekend around $23 million for the sixth title in the series that kicked off with 2011’s Insidious. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

Yet for all the star power at the fest’s kickoff event, the LA Jazz Festival may have been in trouble from the start. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Still, the Union, winners of four league games in a row before kickoff, were the side with the most control. — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026