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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kick off
Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
The name stems from the ideal day for planting the sweet onion (October 15), but March kicks off its limited harvest season that ends in early July.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Hurts, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Lynn Swann were all honored before kickoff at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Verb
Just as the trial for Samuel Patrick Groft was about to kick off, the 45-year-old instead pleaded no contest Wednesday to a slew of vandalism charges stemming from the seven-day slashing rampage.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
The name stems from the ideal day for planting the sweet onion (October 15), but March kicks off its limited harvest season that ends in early July.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026
Noun
Also on Monday, an ex-aide in Adams’ office was fined $400 for violating city rules by using his government email account to advertise a kickoff event for Adams’ reelection bid.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Hurts, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Lynn Swann were all honored before kickoff at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
Verb
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Many are optimistic the recent leadership change will begin to bear fruit.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
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The field, north of the mining town of Ballarat, had been used as a campsite during the Australian Gold Rush, which began in 1851 and continued for decades.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Both died from complications of Alzheimer's disease.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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In the ongoing Yemeni civil war, close to 400,000 have died since 2014—and the number will go higher still.—
Josef Joffe,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Intertextuality is described by Scarlett Barton in perhaps the opposite way, as linked to Roland Barthes’ observation that the author is dead, and that the text is the dissolution of every kind of voice, every beginning and core.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
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This approach may appeal to taxpayers who want more personalized guidance at the beginning of the tax relief process before deciding how to proceed.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Carolyn Hax started her Washington Post advice column in 1997, after five years on the Style desk and none as a therapist.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
20 Feb. 2026
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And then the show started to really explode.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The wait time can fall anywhere between six minutes and six hours.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
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Dua Lipa and Callum Turner, as a powerhouse couple, that fall more in step with the likes of Hailey and Justin Bieber’s individual style statements than, say, Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet’s joint method dressing.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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These are the tentative dates, as the actual commencement date of Ramadan 2026 depends on the sighting of the moon.—
Lianna Norman,
Florida Times-Union,
13 Feb. 2026
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Known for his couture collections and dressing icons such as Cicely Tyson and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Michael previously served as a guest lecturer, critic and commencement speaker at the school.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Principal photography will commence June 2026.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
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While some Winter Olympic qualifying rounds begin on Wednesday, February 4, the Milano Cortina Games officially commence with the opening ceremony on February 6 and run until Sunday, February 22.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In Alzheimer’s disease, for example, people with more cognitive reserve often delay the onset of symptoms despite the presence of the amyloid and tau, two proteins that are the hallmark signs of the neurological disorder.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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According to reports, O'Hara, 71, died within hours of the onset of symptoms, the document reads.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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