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 second baseman MaKayla Van Vossen, a DePaul recruit, led off a three-run first with an opposite-field blast to left-center for her fifth home run of the season.
—
Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani led off the bottom half of the third inning.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Alec Bohn led off with a homer.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Alex Call led off the eighth with a double and scored on a two-out single by Kyle Tucker to cut the lead to one.
—CBS News, 5 May 2026
Bo Bichette led off the bottom of the first with a home run against right-hander Zack Littell, and the Mets chased him from the game in the fourth inning.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
Yandy Diaz led off with a walk, went to second on a ground out and scored on a two-out single by Vilade that ended Messick’s night.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Neto led off the game with a hit.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
Stanton drove in two more in the sixth with a drive off the scoreboard in left-center, bringing in Amed Rosario and Aaron Judge after the Yankees led off the inning with back-to-back walks.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani led off the bottom half of the third inning.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Alec Bohn led off with a homer.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Alex Call led off the eighth with a double and scored on a two-out single by Kyle Tucker to cut the lead to one.
—CBS News, 5 May 2026
Bo Bichette led off the bottom of the first with a home run against right-hander Zack Littell, and the Mets chased him from the game in the fourth inning.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
Yandy Diaz led off with a walk, went to second on a ground out and scored on a two-out single by Vilade that ended Messick’s night.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Neto led off the game with a hit.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
Stanton drove in two more in the sixth with a drive off the scoreboard in left-center, bringing in Amed Rosario and Aaron Judge after the Yankees led off the inning with back-to-back walks.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for led off
Verb
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When Richards began his career in criminal-justice advocacy, the idea of closing Rikers Island would have been a radical fantasy.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
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Spencer Strider, who began the year sidelined with a right oblique strain and struggled with command upon his return last week, looked close to vintage form in Los Angeles.—
Jesús Cano,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The news comes a few weeks after Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) boss Ravi Ahuja commenced a months-long layoffs process that will impact a few hundred of its 12,000 global staff.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
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Anika Reed The Beyoncé Gala has finally commenced.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
Verb
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Carolyn Hax started her Washington Post advice column in 1997, after five years on the Style desk and none as a therapist.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
15 May 2026
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Barker and Tomlinson had been at it for a year when the pandemic started, and their classes migrated to Zoom.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Starship, which has not flown in 2026, last got off the ground more than seven months ago on its 11th flight test since April 2023.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
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In an interview with Jim Cramer last week, CVS CEO David Joyner acknowledged its Aetna business got off track but said it’s now seen five quarters of improvement.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Verb
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This is one of the longest-standing Filipino restaurants in Little Manila, opened in 1992 by Renee and Ernesto Dizon, who wanted to serve the neighborhood’s growing population of immigrant nurses.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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Kelsey Plum scored 11 of her 27 points in the fourth quarter, but by then the Aces had opened a 20-plus point lead.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Led off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/led%20off. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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