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 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 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
  1. begins
  2. commences
  3. starts
  4. opens
Verb
  • And everything begins to feel strangely familiar—like creative output assembled mechanically from patterns.
    — Adam Taylor, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • In this novel, Aphrodite’s story begins with the goddess visiting a sculptor in Milos.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of begins
Verb
  • The Genesis Scottish Open commences this week at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, as a significant co-sanctioned DP World Tour and PGA Tour event offering a $9 million purse.
    — Zach Schenfisch, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Players and coaches are away from team facilities, taking time to regroup before training camp commences at the end of July.
    — The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of commences
Verb
  • That process typically starts before agencies submit proposals to the commissions, though not in the case of the fencing (or the arch, which was already approved by one commission).
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 16 July 2026
  • Ahead of our July Monthly Meeting livestream, which starts at noon ET , here's a look at what moved our three top and bottom performers since our last meeting.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Definition of starts
Verb
  • Episode three opens with Daemon and Caraxes, flanked by Ulf on Silverwing and Hugh on Vermithor, meeting Lord Ormund Hightower’s host in an open field.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
  • On Sundays, Kenyon opens the gates of his homestead to kids from Cherbourg, and anyone else who wants to ride bulls.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of opens

Browse Nearby Words

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 18 Jul. 2026.

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