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
  • He was later stabilized but ultimately died from his injuries Sunday.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Zhu steered China’s economic policy for more than a decade since the early 1990s, first as a vice premier and then the premier under late leader Jiang Zemin, who died in late 2022.
    — CNN Staff, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of die
Noun
  • Unlike 12 years ago, predation isn’t centred on a minority; 11 different Premier League clubs have lost players to the ‘Big Six’ since the beginning of last summer.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • At the beginning of the year, some volunteers within Coppell ISD went door-to-door to recruit and keep students in public education.
    — Lacey Beasley, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • Willy Adames and Rafael Devers singled to start the fourth against Melton, putting runners at the corners.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • However, consuming large amounts—such as those used in studies where up to 1/2 cup was consumed daily—can start to weaken and damage tooth enamel.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 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
  • If, for example, a commencement speaker praising the value of artificial intelligence is met with jeers from graduates – as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was in May 2026 – the speaker’s message is immediately rendered inert.
    — Evan Clarkson, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026
  • In July, the City Council approved a fourth request for more modifications to the redevelopment agreement — which pushed back the project’s commencement from July 31, 2026, to July 31, 2027, according to city documents.
    — Taylor O'Connor August 6, Kansas City Star, 6 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
  • Kersten, who passed away in 1960, claimed to have saved numerous lives during the war due to his influence over the Nazi leader.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Before every game, Worthy heads over to the goalpost and talks to his grandma, who passed away right before he was drafted.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 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 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of kick off for Spanish Speakers

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