1
as in began
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in died
slang
to stop living
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 kicked off
The Athletics' home opener is Friday at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, but just one day earlier, their Single-A affiliate, the Stockton Ports, kicked off opening day in downtown Stockton.
—
Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
In 2024 he was given his first comprehensive institutional solo exhibition in Europe, which kicked off at the Fridericianum in Kassel before traveling to Kunsthalle Bern in 2025 and Palais de Tokyo in 2026.
—News Desk, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
Last year, shortly after Springsteen kicked off his European Land of Hope and Dreams Tour with an anti-Trump speech, the president responded with a post on Truth Social.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
That warming trend kicked off amid March’s record-breaking heat wave and is expected to intensify during this year’s strong El Niño cycle.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
European stocks kicked off the month with a major rebound .
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
Sweeney Bell had a tepid response, however, to a recent controversy in which dozens of local Democrats were kicked off the ballot for breaking an Indiana Democratic Party rule.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
And then the match kicked off, Newcastle were passive and on the back foot, and the idea of football as an academic exercise was obliterated.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
That led Traynham to the North Carolina Troopers’ Association, where a successful interview kicked off two years of training in human remains detection.
—Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Mar. 2026
Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
In 2024 he was given his first comprehensive institutional solo exhibition in Europe, which kicked off at the Fridericianum in Kassel before traveling to Kunsthalle Bern in 2025 and Palais de Tokyo in 2026.
—News Desk, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
Last year, shortly after Springsteen kicked off his European Land of Hope and Dreams Tour with an anti-Trump speech, the president responded with a post on Truth Social.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
That warming trend kicked off amid March’s record-breaking heat wave and is expected to intensify during this year’s strong El Niño cycle.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
European stocks kicked off the month with a major rebound .
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
Sweeney Bell had a tepid response, however, to a recent controversy in which dozens of local Democrats were kicked off the ballot for breaking an Indiana Democratic Party rule.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
And then the match kicked off, Newcastle were passive and on the back foot, and the idea of football as an academic exercise was obliterated.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
That led Traynham to the North Carolina Troopers’ Association, where a successful interview kicked off two years of training in human remains detection.
—Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicked off
Verb
-
The board began to shake and flash purple; my whole body jiggled.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The Yankees led, 4-3, going into the eighth, but the inning began to unravel when reliever Fernando Cruz issued a one-walk to Jakob Marsee.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The diagnosis was announced Thursday by Coroner Ian Telford, who is conducting a preliminary hearing into the death of Shane Christie who died in August aged 39.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The 15-year-old was taken to a local hospital and died less than an hour later, according to police.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trade with China commenced in 1553.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon shared the fun fact on X once the court commenced arguments Wednesday morning, but her post drew some backlash, with critics saying no such chair exists.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Floorboards were milled from walnut trees felled at a construction site in North Carolina.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
2 Apr. 2026
-
With a hollow interior trunk, Stumpy was among 158 trees felled in 2024 as part of a project aimed at shoring up a sea wall near the National Mall.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One person is dead after trying to put out a fire started by an electric-bicycle battery in a San Jose apartment, fire officials said.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
What started as a personal endeavor evolved into something much larger.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While Shaffer’s father has now passed away, his younger brother Derek has seemingly taken a step back from search efforts and has not spoken out publicly in recent years.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
My uncle Phil, who also had epilepsy and relied on Medicaid, passed away recently after years of struggling to afford his medications.—
James Hart,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In 2002, the city opened its first havnebad, a public harbor bath, and Leonardsen, along with thousands of her neighbors, took the plunge.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The three combined hits are the lowest total for a game at Progressive Field, which opened in 1994.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The next day, the suspect reportedly checked out of the hotel, according to the lawsuit.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Lamar Odom has reportedly checked out of rehab after completing a 30-day program following his DUI arrest earlier this year.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicked off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicked%20off. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
