kick off 1 of 2

verb

Definition of kick offnext
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

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2
as in to die
slang to stop living surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

kickoff

2 of 2

noun

ˈkik-ˌȯf How to pronounce kickoff (audio)
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kick off
Verb
Ocasio-Cortez’s choice to share her egg-freezing publicly has kicked off furious debate and confused hand-wringing among conservatives. — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026 Perhaps Brand New Day could kick off a more stable new phase for superheroes. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
All but five of his 61 kickoffs went through the end zone for touchbacks. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026 As a result, Midsummer Scream has become the unofficial kickoff to Halloween season, giving fans a place to gather and get excited for what lies ahead. — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
  1. begin
  2. die
  3. beginning
  4. start
  5. fall
  6. commencement
  7. commence
  8. pass away
Verb
  • That trial is scheduled to begin next month, but could be pushed back or canceled altogether depending on what the judge decides.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Episodes of the Premier League Years, the Sky Sports show that boils down each season into two hours and is arguably the UK’s greatest cultural achievement, often begin with a montage of that season’s new arrivals.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of begin
Verb
  • The siblings inherited the Lakers through the Buss Family Trust after their father died in 2013, though their ties to the organization extended well beyond ownership.
    — Law Murray, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Fedorov is right to say ideals should not die in warfare, or why else fight?
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of die
Noun
  • Many of England’s players only arrived at their club’s pre-season camps at the beginning of August, three weeks after many sides saw the bulk of their squads return.
    — George Edwards, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Jurors were shown a photo of a green body bag at the beginning of her questioning, followed by a grisly photo of his body.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • Tamekia Morris didn’t start her career thinking about welding torches or HVAC units.
    — Carson Bonner, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Hopes for an imminent US-Iran deal to end the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz added to optimism that oil and gas, along with other key products, would again start flowing freely after more than five months of war.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of start
Verb
  • Brokerages price crypto like an asset class, a few dozen basis points and falling.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Kabita quickly fell pregnant with a daughter of her own, Sonam.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall
Noun
  • In May, college graduates entering a workforce where the technology is the primary reason for job cuts met commencement speakers hailing the AI revolution—including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt at the University of Arizona—with boos.
    — Jason Dressel, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
  • College students booed mentions of AI during commencement ceremonies this spring.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of commencement
Verb
  • The project commenced with a simple analog instrument panel clock.
    — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • After a study to map its sprawling network of rooms commenced in 2022, a nuclear bunker in northern Italy will transform into a Cold War museum scheduled to open in part next year.
    — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of commence
Verb
  • The museum’s 520-piece collection includes works from late 20th-century Colombian artists like Oscar Muñoz, Olga de Amaral, Beatriz González, who passed away this past January.
    — Kim Córdova, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Pippa organized the event in honor of her friend Thomas Waley-Cohen, who passed away from bone cancer in 2004 at the age of 20.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of pass away

Browse Nearby Words

kicking upstairs
kick off
kickoff
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Cite this Entry

“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of kick off for Spanish Speakers

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