leads off

verb

present tense third-person singular of lead off
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

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 leads off Ohtani typically leads off but was dropped lower while struggling with injuries to his left knee and right biceps over the last few months that have prevented the two-way star from pitching since early July. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 Baldwin leads off, and consistently sets the table for his teammates. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Deist leads off, followed by Battista and Tucker, with Devin Wheaton at cleanup. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026 Vestal leads off with a single. — Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026 After pitchers, catchers and several position players completed their physicals Wednesday, no storyline from the opening day of camp carried more weight than the one that leads off our first takeaways report from Yankees spring training. — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026 As usual, the list of evils leads off with a medical procedure that is never directly condemned in the Bible — and is arguably even sanctioned in Jewish texts when a pregnancy threatens a woman’s health. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026 Every Wednesday, Reid leads off the weekly news conference. — Sam McDowell 18, Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leads off
  1. begins
  2. commences
  3. starts
  4. opens
Verb
  • As the employee begins to approach retirement and the DC account balance grows, the percentage of their contribution allocated to the annuity could increase as part of a glide path.
    — Jeff Stevenson, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The closure, which begins Saturday, has been years in the making and included impact-mitigation meetings among California Department of Transportation officials, neighboring communities, shipping companies, labor unions and the contractor.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of begins
Verb
  • Or to be up high and see that, down below, a town is just a grid spread out on a map and nothing more, a grid that flickers with lights that spark on as the darkness commences.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The process, in other words, commences with the industrial production of miniature supernovas.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of commences
Verb
  • Safer checkout habits for the holiday season Avoiding holiday shopping scams starts with a few simple habits.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • While a treatment with one of Faria’s team starts from $350, she’s shared some of her favorite (easy) exercises that are designed to stimulate your lymphatic system at home.
    — Hannah Coates, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of starts
Verb
  • The spa The Roman-style pool opens onto a terrace with panoramic views, while the tranquil spa blends marble, bamboo, and water features into a serene retreat.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The platform opens Relex to external systems, agents, partners, and customer teams through APIs, plugins, and other open standards, letting organizations connect existing technology and build new capabilities without replacing what already works.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of opens

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leads
leads off
leads on
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Cite this Entry

“Leads off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leads%20off. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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