leading off

verb

present participle of lead off
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 leading off Athletics starter Jacob Lopez hit Mayo with a pitch leading off the second then walked Leodys Taveras with one out. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 Christian Koss was hit by a pitch leading off the fifth and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Furman before Taylor Clarke replaced Arizona starter Jose Cabrera. — CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 Jackson Holliday singled leading off the eighth and, with one out, Basallo hit his first career pinch homer, a shot to center. — Harvey Valentine, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026 The Sox trailed 2-0 in the seventh when Vargas walked leading off the inning. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Smith said that with South Carolina leading off and many Southern states following on Super Tuesday soon after the early lineup concludes, progressives will have to take the time to listen and then tailor their messages. — Mike Catalini, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026 Along the way, the Padres got a one-out double by Jake Cronenworth in the second inning, a one-out double by Ty France in the fourth, a double leading off the fifth by Freddy Fermin and another one-out double by France in the sixth. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading off
  1. beginning
  2. commencing
  3. starting
  4. getting off
  5. opening
Verb
  • But Marcia was beginning to sound like Marcia on the page, Marcia in those essays that both excited and infuriated her readers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • During the study session, City Clerk Sherri Gard recommended the group seek legal counsel before beginning a signature-gathering effort.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • The program picked four international applicants out of nearly 1,000 for a six-month fellowship commencing this month in London along with a cash prize of £10,000 ($13,480) each.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This week, London’s Serpentine Galleries announced the launch of a six-month fellowship program, commencing in September, that will award four artists working with artificial intelligence grants of £10,000.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of commencing
Verb
  • Kevin Danso, who closed the season as his starting centre-back, and Cristian Romero have been replaced in the starting line-up by Jan Paul van Hecke, a classy but less physically dominant defender than the outgoers.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But just as at any school, the students are then split into many more subcultures, starting with those in the co-ops—student-run living and dining communities that essentially stand in for Greek life.
    — Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of starting
Verb
  • Buechele was back-pedaling in the face of pressure before getting off a pass to Pettis, who was open along the left side of hte goal line.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • After Wheeler scored on third down, Buechele back-pedaled in the face of pressure before getting off a pass to Pettis, who was open along the left side of the goal line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of getting off
Verb
  • That's the reality of life without starting quarterback Sam Darnold, who was knocked out of this season-opening matchup with a right hip injury.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Colorado’s gritty 14-13 season-opening win at Georgia Tech is precisely the type of game that the Buffaloes would not have won during Deion Sanders’ first three seasons as head coach.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of opening

Browse Nearby Words

leading men
leading off
leading on
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leading off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading%20off. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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