as in begins
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 leads off
Alex Bregman #2 of the Boston Red Sox leads off second base during the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 14, 2025 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
—
Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Jarren Duran, who typically leads off and who hasn’t batted lower than sixth in the order all season, will bat eighth.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Jarren Duran, who typically leads off and who hasn’t batted lower than sixth in the order all season, will bat eighth.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leads off
Verb
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The show is a campy, 1980s-style whodunit that begins with the funeral of a famous singer.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
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The season finale episode begins with Part 1 of the HOH competition.—
Christopher Kuhagen,
jsonline.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Of course, things will continue to change as non-conference play mostly wraps up and the conference slate commences in earnest in the next couple of weeks.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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There’s now just one last day of preseason games before the NFL commences its regular season.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle starts sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Hydroplaning is when a vehicle starts uncontrollably sliding on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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La Galerie du 19M Tokyo, which opens to the public on Tuesday, underlines the importance of skilled labor in the face of AI, generational transition and debate about the value of luxury goods, as the house prepares for the first show by its new artistic director Matthieu Blazy.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
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To that end, the season opens with Paolo Bortolameolli, associate conductor of the LA Philharmonic, returning in the guest conductor role.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leads off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leads%20off. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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