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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to die
slang
to stop living
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kick off
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2026
The tour kicks off in Calgary, Alberta, on June 13 and continues down the west coast with stops in Las Vegas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and more.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2026
John Wenzel, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Connecticut police officers departed by bicycle from the Hartford Public Safety Complex on Friday, May 8, 2026, during the annual Police Unity Tour kickoff ceremony.
—Aaron Flaum, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Verb
That really kicks off the buying.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2026
The tour kicks off in Calgary, Alberta, on June 13 and continues down the west coast with stops in Las Vegas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and more.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2026
Noun
Early highlights include Brazilian Day (May 30), a Pride kickoff with Tiano Major9, Central City Opera’s drag show (June 5), Lettuce (June 20), and the Soul Rebel Reggae Fest with Black Uhuru (July 12).
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Connecticut police officers departed by bicycle from the Hartford Public Safety Complex on Friday, May 8, 2026, during the annual Police Unity Tour kickoff ceremony.
—Aaron Flaum, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
Verb
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Climbers began gathering in April at the base camp, which is at an altitude of 17,340 feet.—
Pasang Rinzee Sherpa,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Rogers was released from federal prison in March 2024 and began serving his three-year term of supervised release.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Another hiker died on the same trail one week earlier after falling down a ravine, though officials haven’t clarified whether injuries or illness caused his death.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
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One of the owners told officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that 31 other sloths, from Guyana and Peru, had died — either on the way to the attraction or after arriving and being stored over cold nights in a building with no heat or running water.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Noun
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The language of covenant, liberty, moral responsibility, human dignity, and redemption helped shape the nation’s moral imagination from the very beginning.—
Ari Berman,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
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And the most exciting part is that this is only the beginning.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Erica Wheeler, who started in place of Ariel Atkins (concussion), scored 10 points with seven assists and was a plus-16 as the primary ball handler after starting the season two for 16 from the field.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
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Catilin Clark is just starting her third WNBA season, and she is already being honored for a big career achievement in a pregame ceremony.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Huntington Beach fell behind early in the second set but continued to keep the set close before Fruerbringer’s kill gave the Mustangs a 16-11 lead.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
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After a jump ball, Miles chased down the ball at midcourt, started to drive and passed to Hof, whose layup at the buzzer did not fall.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
Noun
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While standing alone in Norlin Quad waiting to walk into Folsom Field for commencement, a grayed Pete Brock sparked the curiosity of a group of CU students that could be his grandchildren.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
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All commencement ceremonies will be streamed live on the SAU Facebook page for those who wish to attend virtually.—
Ryan Anderson,
Arkansas Online,
7 May 2026
Verb
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In an interview with People magazine published Wednesday, May 13, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos reflected on authorities' progress in the high-profile search operation, which commenced in early February after Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her home in Arizona.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
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Directed by Robert Kun and produced by Salem Entertainment, the film is scheduled to commence principal photography in July and is targeting a worldwide release in the second quarter of 2027.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Noun
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In Asia, a global dip in radiance in early 2020 aligned almost precisely with the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns.—
Bree Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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The House of Representatives eliminated the pandemic-era proxy voting rules, implemented under Pelosi at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, when the GOP gained control of the lower chamber of Congress in January 2023.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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