as in first
coming before all others in time or order
the leadoff batter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to begin
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 leadoff
Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026
Sanoja's infield bloop hit off reliever Will Klein (1-2) scored Xavier Edwards, who singled leading off.
—CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leadoff
Adjective
Those four all ranked among the top 40 in baseball in non-leadoff plate appearances with the bases empty last season.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Dodgers tied it again in the sixth on Dalton Rushing’s bloop single to right that scored Kyle Tucker, who led off the inning with a double.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026
Sanoja's infield bloop hit off reliever Will Klein (1-2) scored Xavier Edwards, who singled leading off.
—CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leadoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leadoff
Adjective
-
Romo’s home runs were the first of the season by a Sox catcher.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
And while this is the king's first visit to his son's new home country since the rift, the four-day work trip isn't a personal one.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And of course Mike Brown pulled Mitchell Robinson, who missed four straight free throws when the 76ers began intentionally fouling him in the first quarter, only to continue extending the lead despite the Sixers’ attempts at stifling his rotation.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
-
Black voters who feared losing representation in Congress opposed that request and argued the justices should instead hold onto their April 29 ruling until after the election because voting in the primary had already begun.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
Adjective
-
More advanced detailing came a year after the launch of the Air Max 1000 on the Air Max 95000, as Project Nectar tech allows for the application of additional elements after the initial print run.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Kuchler said the group’s initial meetings would be educational and involve reviewing plans, going over the village’s Comprehensive Plan, and looking at results from communities with similar plans.—
Hank Beckman,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Since the season commenced in Australia in March, the F1 WAGs have made their presence known as they've been seen alongside their partners in the paddock and cheering from the stands during races.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier this year, the company announced a publishing administration partnership with 16-time Grammy Award-winner — and Variety’s Hitmakers 2025 songwriter of the year — Bruno Mars, commencing upon the completion of his current deal with BMG/Warner Chappell.—
Andrew Flanagan,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Huskers are expected to have their inaugural season in spring 2028 with informal competitions next year.—
PJ Green
April 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Corinthian will shortly embark on her inaugural season, with a new collection of itineraries in the eastern Mediterranean and Northern Europe scheduled for 2027.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 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,
15 May 2026
-
Musk left OpenAI’s board in 2018, and five years later started xAI as a competitor, before merging that business with SpaceX in February.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Making its maiden voyage at the beginning of May, the Corinthian will sail across the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, before crossing the Atlantic and reaching the Caribbean in winter.—
Emma Clarke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Ocelli is winless in six starts, with his best showing a second in a maiden race last year.—
Jay Posner,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Several times in the last couple of decades, Microsoft has released source code for the original MS-DOS operating system that kicked off its decades-long dominance of consumer PCs.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
-
At Fairmont Bagel, dig into its original poppy-seed bagel.—
Megan Wallitsch,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leadoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leadoff. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
