as in beginning
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement
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Recent Examples of leading off
Devers homered for the fourth time this season, connecting against Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3) leading off the bottom half to tie it.
—
CBS News, 9 May 2026
Schmitt’s homer, his third of the year, came two batters after Matt Chapman had doubled leading off the sixth.
—Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Then struck out again leading off the top of the fifth inning.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Murakami homered again on Saturday, this time leading off the seventh inning.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Shortstop Gunnar Henderson homered for Baltimore in the third inning, his sixth of the season, and Jeremiah Jackson hit a solo shot off reliever Caleb Killian leading off the seventh.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Neto added a solo shot leading off the ninth inning for his second extra base hit of the night.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Gleyber Torres walked leading off the seventh against loser Michael Lorenzen, and Jackson Chourio’s two-out single put runners at the corners.
—Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 9 May 2026
Schmitt’s homer, his third of the year, came two batters after Matt Chapman had doubled leading off the sixth.
—Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Then struck out again leading off the top of the fifth inning.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Murakami homered again on Saturday, this time leading off the seventh inning.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Shortstop Gunnar Henderson homered for Baltimore in the third inning, his sixth of the season, and Jeremiah Jackson hit a solo shot off reliever Caleb Killian leading off the seventh.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Neto added a solo shot leading off the ninth inning for his second extra base hit of the night.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Gleyber Torres walked leading off the seventh against loser Michael Lorenzen, and Jackson Chourio’s two-out single put runners at the corners.
—Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading off
Verb
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Lee was walking us along a sweetness gradient, beginning with a savory on-ramp of legumes and caviar and arriving at a place of unambiguous dessert.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
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Some strategists later said that the debate helped shift Pratt's candidacy from political novelty to a campaign that voters were beginning to take seriously.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The 79th annual Cannes Film Festival is around the corner, commencing May 13 with the opening ceremony at the Palais des Festivals in the south of France.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
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This is the phase of the project that’s now commencing.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Still, Bores told me that lines were starting to blur.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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Törnberg identified three new kinds of emerging online media platforms, starting with private or semi-private group chats like WhatsApp.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The driver said the Ford, driven by Baummer, drove past and changed lanes in front of him before getting off I-695 at Hollins Ferry Road.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
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Eva and her boyfriend, still in all-black servers’ uniforms, were meeting us after getting off their shifts at another of the casino’s many restaurants.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Verb
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When the puck finally dropped on the fifth and deciding game of the semifinal series, Minnesota came out flying with yet another quick start, pinning Montreal into its own zone for most of the opening 10 minutes.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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Haring, in fact, was one of the earliest artists to experiment with blending art and commerce, opening his famous Pop Shop in Lower Manhattan in 1986.—
Leigh Anne Miller,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leading off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading%20off. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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