as in starts
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
Relevance
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 kickoffs
The triumph did not come without some drama, though, as linebacker Jamien Sherwood was only seen fielding kickoffs during the first quarter.
—
Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Texas Tech recently banned the throwing of tortillas onto the field during kickoffs, a practice that stretches back decades.
—Jordy Fee-Platt, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The Red Raiders were penalized twice for their fans throwing tortillas on the field during kickoffs.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Some were bigger, like eliminating kickoffs.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Etienne set the Panthers up with great field position throughout the afternoon, making electric returns off both punts and kickoffs.
—Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
Caleb Sylvia kicked field goals of 47 and 25 yards and sent all seven of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
That’s an 89-yard differential to go along with being minus-9 in overall starting field position and a whopping minus-19 on kickoffs.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
Williams, who for many years was the person on KU’s sideline to race onto the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium turf to retrieve the tee after kickoffs, from 1970 until 2020 didn’t miss a KU football home game.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2025
Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Texas Tech recently banned the throwing of tortillas onto the field during kickoffs, a practice that stretches back decades.
—Jordy Fee-Platt, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The Red Raiders were penalized twice for their fans throwing tortillas on the field during kickoffs.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Some were bigger, like eliminating kickoffs.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Etienne set the Panthers up with great field position throughout the afternoon, making electric returns off both punts and kickoffs.
—Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
Caleb Sylvia kicked field goals of 47 and 25 yards and sent all seven of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
That’s an 89-yard differential to go along with being minus-9 in overall starting field position and a whopping minus-19 on kickoffs.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
Williams, who for many years was the person on KU’s sideline to race onto the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium turf to retrieve the tee after kickoffs, from 1970 until 2020 didn’t miss a KU football home game.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kickoffs
Noun
-
The cash payments have also led to higher birth weights and longer breastfeeding periods for babies, the Bridge Project says, both of which signal healthier starts to a child's life.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The workout flurry comes while the Bears sit at one of their better starts (5-3) and navigate a crucial midseason stretch — one in which maintaining a steady run game will be important to protect QB Caleb Williams and an evolving offense.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This is a year of new beginnings and adventures!—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
-
In straightforward and compelling prose, Sammy, then 40, tells the story of his vaudeville beginnings, his growth as an entertainer, and his movement through America.—
Questlove,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Notably, Stefanik is not narrating the video, a feature typical of most campaign launches, when the candidate speaks directly to appeal to the voter.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
-
As orbital launches and other space activities have increased, so have the fragments produced by collisions, accidental breakups, spent rocket stages, and more.—
Humberto Basilio,
Scientific American,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Future experiments, including the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) in the US and Japan’s Hyper-Kamiokande, are expected to build on this foundation and offer even longer baselines and more powerful detectors to trace how neutrinos shift flavors across greater distances.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Metabolic tests can be helpful baselines to assess your risk of developing all sorts of conditions, including heart disease.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kickoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kickoffs. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share