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
None stung more than the second inning, when Freddie Freeman led off with a single against Pirates rookie Braxton Ashcraft.
—
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Teel led off the seventh with a home run, his fifth of the season.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
And after Yuki Matsui worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning to stem the Twins’ three-inning run flow, Cronenworth led off the seventh with a double.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Rookie second baseman Ryan Ritter led off the ninth with a single to left off of Cubs’ right-hander Daniel Palencia.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
After Profar led off with a walk, Matt Olson smashed Gusto’s 79 mph curveball 426 feet to center for a 3-0 lead.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
Ramon Laureano led off the third inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 23 Aug. 2025
Matos led off the seventh inning with a walk and was later able to steal second base.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2025
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Teel led off the seventh with a home run, his fifth of the season.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
And after Yuki Matsui worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning to stem the Twins’ three-inning run flow, Cronenworth led off the seventh with a double.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Rookie second baseman Ryan Ritter led off the ninth with a single to left off of Cubs’ right-hander Daniel Palencia.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
After Profar led off with a walk, Matt Olson smashed Gusto’s 79 mph curveball 426 feet to center for a 3-0 lead.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
Ramon Laureano led off the third inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 23 Aug. 2025
Matos led off the seventh inning with a walk and was later able to steal second base.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for led off
Verb
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Russell’s touchdown came 3 plays after Green ran for 35 yards on the first play of the possession that began at midfield.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
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LaFleur began his Packer career going 8-0 against the NFC North and was 15-3 in his first three seasons.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Last year, 39-year-old Kendra Frazer was found dead just hours before the festival commenced.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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And despite holding a groundbreaking ceremony last September, building still has not commenced on a 120-bed behavioral health facility on the campus of Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And to round things out, a couple volleyball-centric stories, as the Cards started their 2025 campaign last week.—
Payton Titus,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Sep. 2025
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Bhutia quit his corporate life and started a cloud kitchen in 2023.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In fact, while 19 schools got off the low-performing list in 2023-24, 17 more were added.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Sep. 2025
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The Tar Heels got off to a sprint of a start with an 83-yard drive that ended with Caleb Hood scoring through the right side from 8 yards out, followed by forcing a quick punt.—
Aaron Beard,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then, the Oversight Committee later released 33,000 files on Epstein, just hours after the discharge petition opened.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Sep. 2025
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The trailer opened with Bryant writing a letter to her longtime frenemy Huger.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Led off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/led%20off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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