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leadoff 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of leadoffnext
as in first
coming before all others in time or order the leadoff batter

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lead off

2 of 2

verb

ˈlēd- How to pronounce lead off (audio)
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
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
José Ramírez led off the fourth with a double down the right-field line, advanced to third on Chase DeLauter's fly out to left and scored on Jo Adell's infield single. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026 After Ryan O'Hearn led off with a single to center, Flores sent a slider from Nate Pearson (2-3) into the left-field bleachers for his 10th homer this season. — CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leadoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leadoff
  1. first
  2. begin
  3. initial
  4. commence
  5. inaugural
  6. start
  7. maiden
  8. set about
Adjective
  • Take Ludwig, 2018, the artist’s first CGI video, which for eight minutes stays fixed on a single CGI blond boy who rolls around in the dark hold of a ship amid a storm.
    — Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
  • First ring, first row of the Koch Theater is widely considered to have the best seats in the house.
    — Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of first
Verb
  • Soon after the mother and daughter took over the kitchen, lines began forming inside the supermarket.
    — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Release can begin with simply deciding not to keep feeding the same pattern.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of begin
Adjective
  • Their first interaction went viral as the streamer had the OVO boss bark for her during their initial meeting.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2026
  • System instructions should require the agent to inspect initial evidence, reformulate searches, run additional retrieval passes, compare sources and verify material claims.
    — Patrick Dajos, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of initial
Verb
  • The girls basketball state finals will begin March 4, while the boys basketball finals will commence March 11.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Ye Jianyuan The Suzhou MoCA was inaugurated nearly four years after construction commenced in December 2022.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of commence
Adjective
  • The Red Sea fest and market was established in 2019, with its inaugural edition taking place in 2020, two years after Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year ban on commercial movie theaters.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The inaugural prize celebrates a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of inaugural
Verb
  • Hormonal conditions Many women may notice hair loss with changes in hormones such as during pregnancy, menopause or even after starting or stopping birth control pills.
    — Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The 911 caller told dispatchers a person in the building started the fire and fled the scene.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of start
Adjective
  • The maiden season of new cruise ships, new or one-off itineraries, and special event sailings tend to go quickly, too.
    — Erica Silverstein, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Nyamhuri celebrated his maiden five-wicket haul in the final over when Renshaw mistimed a shot on the leg-side and was caught at deep mid-wicket as Australia scored 66 runs in the final 10 overs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of maiden
Verb
  • Feeling like finding this 950-square-foot apartment was kismet, Miranda-Martin signed the lease and set about creating a sophisticated and color-saturated sanctuary.
    — Marissa Gluck, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • As the team set about their usual high-performance recovery routines, blending active recovery, massages and refueling, a group of USMNT players partook in a different form of relaxation altogether.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 25 June 2026
Definition of set about

Browse Nearby Words

leadmen
leadoff
lead off
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leadoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leadoff. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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