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
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Recent Examples of kickoffs
Still, his main job is running down punts and kickoffs as a core member of Smith’s special teams unit.
—
Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
Fans who like Saturday games and dislike nighttime kickoffs should be quite pleased.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 27 May 2026
Those include the creation of the Sunday Night Soccer package, the allowance of more daytime kickoffs in colder-weather markets, and most recently the erasure of the MLS Season Pass package in favor of making the entire match inventory available for all Apple TV+ subscribers.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
There were 35 concussions on kickoffs in 2025 compared to eight in 2024 mainly because moving the touchback to the 35-yard line resulted in 1,157 more returns.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Concussions There were 35 concussions on kickoffs in 2025 compared to eight in 2024 mainly because moving the touchback to the 35-yard line resulted in 1,157 more returns.
—Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
For a prospect with such gaudy rushing statistics, Walton appears capable of doing a little bit of everything, including returning kickoffs.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
One particularly promising application involves tracking when the ball crosses the sideline during kickoffs and punts.
—Jason Corso, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
That rate has since dropped, even if some football traditionalists struggle to accept the new-look kickoffs.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Feb. 2026
Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
Fans who like Saturday games and dislike nighttime kickoffs should be quite pleased.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 27 May 2026
Those include the creation of the Sunday Night Soccer package, the allowance of more daytime kickoffs in colder-weather markets, and most recently the erasure of the MLS Season Pass package in favor of making the entire match inventory available for all Apple TV+ subscribers.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
There were 35 concussions on kickoffs in 2025 compared to eight in 2024 mainly because moving the touchback to the 35-yard line resulted in 1,157 more returns.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Concussions There were 35 concussions on kickoffs in 2025 compared to eight in 2024 mainly because moving the touchback to the 35-yard line resulted in 1,157 more returns.
—Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
For a prospect with such gaudy rushing statistics, Walton appears capable of doing a little bit of everything, including returning kickoffs.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
One particularly promising application involves tracking when the ball crosses the sideline during kickoffs and punts.
—Jason Corso, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
That rate has since dropped, even if some football traditionalists struggle to accept the new-look kickoffs.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kickoffs
Noun
-
The right-hander has thrown at least seven innings in five of his last seven starts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
After that, the day shift starts agitating for a pizza party.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Originally called MarchingOrder, Tassel had provided services for commencements for around 20 years before adding the AI name offering.—
Kendall Staton The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2026
-
By moving some commencements away from increasingly costly private sites, the financially ailing school district could have saved about half a million dollars a year.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Say yes to beginnings that fit your true pace beautifully.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
The museum takes visitors on an insightful journey through the past, present and future of Mississippi's pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement, including the history of slavery in the state and the beginnings of the Jim Crow era.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Redburn said Wednesday that more funding means more rocket launches, which is a boon for Linde as one of the dominant gas suppliers to the space industry.—
Jeff Marks,Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
-
The commercial landers – SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS) and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 – would reach orbit via separate rocket launches, with SpaceX using its Starship Super Heavy booster, and Blue Origin planning to use its New Glenn.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
As a ballplayer, Kent was as irascible as Bonds; the two alphas reportedly brawled behind clubhouse doors, and famously clashed in the dugout during a 2002 game, when Bonds lunged for Kent’s throat and pushed him against the wall.—
Jeremy Collins,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Big players make big plays in big games, and the Terps don’t have any alphas on the offensive side of the ball.—
Mike Preston,
Baltimore Sun,
26 May 2025
Noun
-
Isolating microplastics that slough off synthetic textiles such as polyester and nylon made the contrast even starker, with airborne levels rising to 100 times global baselines and aquatic concentrations soaring to 200 times higher.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
-
Optical interferometers were invented more than a century ago, but orchestrating and combining signals from multiple telescopes across long baselines has proved much harder to accomplish with visible light compared to the relative ease of working in radio waves.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kickoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kickoffs. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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