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
With Baylor leading off and Collier anchoring, the moment felt fitting — one brother handing the torch to another.
—
Ansley Gavlak, AJC.com, 8 Feb. 2026
The Defender brand is underpinned by Land Rover—a mark of trust built on 75 years of expertise in technology and world-leading off-road capability.
—Ted Alvarez, Outside, 15 Jan. 2026
Chris Cuomo will host a weekday morning show for SiriusXM, leading off the lineup on the POTUS Channel 124.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Mopar, Stellantis' parts and service division, is leading off its holiday gift ideas guide with something to help the Wrangler lover in your life show off a little holiday spirit in the form of the Jeep Wrangler Ugly Sweater trail armor.
—Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
Mopar, Stellantis' parts and service division, is leading off its holiday gift ideas guide with something to help the Wrangler lover in your life show off a little holiday spirit in the form of the Jeep Wrangler Ugly Sweater trail armor.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Kiké Hernández singled leading off against Scherzer and scored on Ohtani’s double to left-center off reliever Mason Fluharty.
—Beth Harris, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Freddie Freeman homered leading off the bottom of the 18th inning, Shohei Ohtani went deep twice in another record-setting performance and the Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-5, in Game 3 on Monday night to win a World Series classic.
—Oc Register, 27 Oct. 2025
McMahon’s bat and glove on display McMahon’s first career postseason home run came in a huge spot, leading off the third inning to tie the score at 1.
—The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Ansley Gavlak, AJC.com, 8 Feb. 2026
The Defender brand is underpinned by Land Rover—a mark of trust built on 75 years of expertise in technology and world-leading off-road capability.
—Ted Alvarez, Outside, 15 Jan. 2026
Chris Cuomo will host a weekday morning show for SiriusXM, leading off the lineup on the POTUS Channel 124.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Mopar, Stellantis' parts and service division, is leading off its holiday gift ideas guide with something to help the Wrangler lover in your life show off a little holiday spirit in the form of the Jeep Wrangler Ugly Sweater trail armor.
—Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
Mopar, Stellantis' parts and service division, is leading off its holiday gift ideas guide with something to help the Wrangler lover in your life show off a little holiday spirit in the form of the Jeep Wrangler Ugly Sweater trail armor.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Kiké Hernández singled leading off against Scherzer and scored on Ohtani’s double to left-center off reliever Mason Fluharty.
—Beth Harris, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Freddie Freeman homered leading off the bottom of the 18th inning, Shohei Ohtani went deep twice in another record-setting performance and the Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-5, in Game 3 on Monday night to win a World Series classic.
—Oc Register, 27 Oct. 2025
McMahon’s bat and glove on display McMahon’s first career postseason home run came in a huge spot, leading off the third inning to tie the score at 1.
—The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading off
Verb
-
Also called The Mother Road, Route 66 stretches almost 2,500 miles and spans eight states, beginning in Chicago, Illinois, and ending in Santa Monica, California.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
-
But this outlook is beginning to change.—
Hadley Meares,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Don Lemon was arrested for covering anti-ICE protests inside a Minnesota church and is now commencing the best press tour of his life.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
-
In his late 20s at the time, Murdoch was commencing a staggering hot streak that would last roughly a decade.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Pitchfork,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The players could feel the former United and Wales winger starting to move up the gears.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The 6-foot-8 power forward played just five minutes in the first game against Houston before the break, scoring on two field goal attempts and one of two free throws, but he will be counted on to back up starting center Brook Lopez.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Will adventure mean getting off our phones and going out into the world?—
Annabel Gat,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
-
After getting off the bus, Cherry and his two friends went back to the Popeyes, which was closed.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The backstory Three years after opening La Sultana Marrakech in 2004, its owners sought for a quieter, more intimate spot to unveil their second Moroccan hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
-
DeMellier is scaling fast, building serious sales momentum ahead of opening its first flagship in London’s Sloane Square later this year.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leading off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading%20off. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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