1
as in to begin
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
I'll kick off the discussion on ethics with this question
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to die
slang
to stop living
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beginning
the point at which something begins
a political cycle in which an election marks not only the end of one campaign but also the kickoff for the next one
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kick off
Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 28 May 2025
Today's listen Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week, with preliminaries kicking off last night.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 May 2025
Rusty Wiley, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
The Broncos‘ lone home preseason game has a date and kickoff time.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Verb
Here are 9 topics ‘100 deadliest days’ on roads kick off Memorial Day weekend
‘Defund the Police,’ five years later: What did the movement accomplish?
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 28 May 2025
Today's listen Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week, with preliminaries kicking off last night.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 May 2025
Noun
New global deal kickoffs, asset sales and mergers on Datasite are up 4% year to date (January through April) compared to the same period in 2024.
—Rusty Wiley, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
The Broncos‘ lone home preseason game has a date and kickoff time.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
Verb
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In Afghanistan, a war that began after 9/11, 2,465 American lives were lost, and half that many allied troops in the campaign to oust Al Qaeda.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
26 May 2025
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The 3-1 deficit proved too much for the Dodgers to surmount — ending a day that had begun with so much optimism around Ohtani’s two-way talents with a dud of a performance and frustrating series loss in Queens.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2025
Verb
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In Zone 6, chaste tree will die back to the ground in the winter and vigorously regrow in spring to a 5 or 6-foot shrub.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 May 2025
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About 200 of those died in crashes that occurred on Chicago expressways, records show.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
Noun
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The spindly youngster is at the beginning of a journey that will successively turn him into one of the most promising, one of the most unfortunate, one of the most maddening and ultimately one of the most celebrated football players in the world.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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May 29, 2025 The LPGA Tour put in place a new pace of play policy at the beginning of the current season, which seeks to reduce playing times.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Known to his fans as King Vamp, the Opium label founder started as a SoundCloud rapper in Atlanta and successfully wave-hopped his way from Awful Records to A$AP Mob to Kanye West on the path to superstardom.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
28 May 2025
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Wealth-creating liquidity readiness starts well before the deal.—
Michael Platner,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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More: Stocks fall, Dow down 800 points as bonds tank amid tax debate.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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An injured climber was rescued after falling 30 feet down a California rock formation, officials say.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
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Trump's speech politicizes military commencement The anecdote came during the commencement address, in which Trump touted his administration's isolationist stances and the ending of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
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At least 12 people were injured after a tree fell on bystanders during a commencement ceremony at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, on Friday.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
24 May 2025
Verb
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The finding suggested that commencing metformin after a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was associated with a better chance of living longer, compared to commencing sulfonylurea.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 May 2025
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Soon Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco arrived at his one-day event, and the cone drills and photos commenced.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2025
Noun
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There are people in the government who have made their intentions very clear at the onset, and those intentions were emptying Gaza of its inhabitants, expelling them, and returning the Jewish settlements there.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
21 May 2025
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This alteration might trigger the onset of migraine or worsen migraine attacks, as well as causing more severe or frequent migraines.—
Brigid Dwyer,
Verywell Health,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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