as in began
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 led off
Tatis led off that inning with a single before Sheets and Machado flied out.
—
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026
Hunter Goodman led off the second with a blast to left, his 15th homer of the season (11th on the road).
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 3 June 2026
The Saints were already down 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Sujak led off the inning.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
An inning later, Shohei Ohtani led off with a double but could only go to third when Andy Pages followed with a bloop double of his own.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
The Cardinals got on the board in the fourth against Brewers starter Chad Patrick when Jordan Walker led off with a single and later scored on Bryan Torres’ triple.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Bachman retired the side in order in the eighth, but Kirby Yates couldn’t convert his first save opportunity for the Angels, as McNeil led off the ninth by curling his second homer inside the right-field foul pole, tying the score at 5.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
Trout led off the bottom of the third with his 43rd career homer against the A's.
—CBS News, 20 May 2026
Righty Zack Kelly left behind a man on first, Lane Thomas, who led off with a single.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026
Hunter Goodman led off the second with a blast to left, his 15th homer of the season (11th on the road).
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 3 June 2026
The Saints were already down 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Sujak led off the inning.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
An inning later, Shohei Ohtani led off with a double but could only go to third when Andy Pages followed with a bloop double of his own.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
The Cardinals got on the board in the fourth against Brewers starter Chad Patrick when Jordan Walker led off with a single and later scored on Bryan Torres’ triple.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Bachman retired the side in order in the eighth, but Kirby Yates couldn’t convert his first save opportunity for the Angels, as McNeil led off the ninth by curling his second homer inside the right-field foul pole, tying the score at 5.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
Trout led off the bottom of the third with his 43rd career homer against the A's.
—CBS News, 20 May 2026
Righty Zack Kelly left behind a man on first, Lane Thomas, who led off with a single.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for led off
Verb
-
Sochan began the year with the San Antonio Spurs, the franchise that selected him in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
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One of the earliest programs for continuing education came from Harvard University, who began the Harvard Extension School in 1835 in what was then called the Lowell Institute.—
Bryan Penprase,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Usyk tried to swarm once the action commenced.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
The LPs also commenced his empathetic association with bassist Bob Cranshaw, who appeared on Rollins’ albums for the next half-century.—
Chris Morris,
Variety,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Oncologists are being flooded with requests as the special access program gets started.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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Yet, San Antonio should be well-prepared for the challenge, having beaten the reigning champion Thunder, which started this season 24-1 and swept its first two playoff opponents.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
Verb
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In the present, Gonzales and Baxter muse about how easily Paula got off from killing Caleb — accidental or not.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
-
Germán Márquez got off on the right foot to start his rehab assignment.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Ditto for the realization that Jean-Michel Basquiat died of an overdose in lower Manhattan the same day The Last Temptation opened in midtown.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
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The other two entrances, also blocked by craters and debris, had already been opened, and the roads to them, previously destroyed by bombing, had been repaved.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Led off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/led%20off. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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