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
Senior shortstop Cooper Page, who went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, led off with a seeing-eye single up the middle.
—
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Garrett Mitchell led off with an infield single, took second on a walk and scored on Sal Frelick's base hit.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Stanton led off the second with a towering shot to left, driving a 1-0 slider from Connelly Early (1-1) over the Green Monster for his third homer of the season and New York’s 19th in the last eight games.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
In the sixth, Witt led off with a single but was stranded at second base as Thomas, Perez and Pasquantino went down in order.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026
Newt Schroeder drove in the only run for Mineral Wells (14-9-2, 3-4) on a ground out in the fourth inning that plated Brogan Sims who had led off the inning with a single.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2026
The 25-year-old center fielder led off Triple-A El Paso’s 6-4 loss at Round Rock on Tuesday with his fourth home run, tops so far in the Padres minor league system.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Garrett Mitchell led off with an infield single, took second on a walk and scored on Sal Frelick's base hit.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Stanton led off the second with a towering shot to left, driving a 1-0 slider from Connelly Early (1-1) over the Green Monster for his third homer of the season and New York’s 19th in the last eight games.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
In the sixth, Witt led off with a single but was stranded at second base as Thomas, Perez and Pasquantino went down in order.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026
Newt Schroeder drove in the only run for Mineral Wells (14-9-2, 3-4) on a ground out in the fourth inning that plated Brogan Sims who had led off the inning with a single.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2026
The 25-year-old center fielder led off Triple-A El Paso’s 6-4 loss at Round Rock on Tuesday with his fourth home run, tops so far in the Padres minor league system.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for led off
Verb
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Across forty-five years, my course began that way.—
John McPhee,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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No tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz today, according to tracking data, making Sunday one of the quietest days in the waterway since the conflict began.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Her teammates intercepted her and commenced a celebration that finally elicited a Nelson smile.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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While most were silent, the few who traded muted pleasantries hushed as the homeowners of the Silver Court Trailer Park commenced their meeting.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Power-play push The Lightning started the game 0 for 3 on the power play, running their woeful man-advantage run to 1 for 35 over the past 12 games.—
Eduardo Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
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Clinton has only started two WSL games and missed this camp through injury.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nailor's Vikings career also got off to a slow start — could Felton follow in his footsteps?—
Anthony Bettin,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
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But Republicans got off the mat quickly, forming Virginians for Fair Maps to battle the other team’s Virginians for Fair Elections.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Crochet opened the fifth at 60 pitches and got two quick strikeouts before leadoff man Jahmai Jones’ solo homer gave Detroit a 2-1 lead.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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This is not the first time Denver Book Society owner Rich Garvin has been involved in a disagreement over the new store’s name – a book swap organization started in 2022 called the Denver Book Swap Society also shared concerns about the similar names before Garvin’s store opened in February.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Led off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/led%20off. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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