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
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2026
The tour kicks off in Calgary, Alberta, on June 13 and continues down the west coast with stops in Las Vegas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and more.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2026
Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
In a strange turn, none of the films slated for this year’s Memorial Day Weekend — the (un)official kickoff of the summer blockbuster rush — actually fit the blockbuster bill, with those more traditional big-budget movies arriving later than usual.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Verb
That really kicks off the buying.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2026
The tour kicks off in Calgary, Alberta, on June 13 and continues down the west coast with stops in Las Vegas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and more.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2026
Noun
Tucked in-between the big PPA Tour Finals and the kickoff of the 2026 MLP season, the Professional Pickleball Association Asian Tour held the 2026 Panas Kuala Lumpur Open in Malaysia.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
In a strange turn, none of the films slated for this year’s Memorial Day Weekend — the (un)official kickoff of the summer blockbuster rush — actually fit the blockbuster bill, with those more traditional big-budget movies arriving later than usual.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
Verb
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Prosecutors allege Saab led a yearslong scheme beginning around 2015 to defraud a humanitarian program intended to provide food to impoverished Venezuelans.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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Last July, when Colbert announced the end of the Late Show franchise on CBS, many wondered what happens when shows that function as cultural town squares begin to disappear?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
Verb
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And while this year ultimately produced notable wins for healthcare policy, business organizations were also frustrated by legislators on that front as well, pointing to a bill that would have allowed for association health plans that died in the Appropriations Committee.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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At least three people have died from the rare virus’s recent outbreak, marking a total of 11 cases as of May 13, according to the World Health Organization.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Noun
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The language of covenant, liberty, moral responsibility, human dignity, and redemption helped shape the nation’s moral imagination from the very beginning.—
Ari Berman,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
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And the most exciting part is that this is only the beginning.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Erica Wheeler, who started in place of Ariel Atkins (concussion), scored 10 points with seven assists and was a plus-16 as the primary ball handler after starting the season two for 16 from the field.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
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Catilin Clark is just starting her third WNBA season, and she is already being honored for a big career achievement in a pregame ceremony.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Only two were earned, but they were all deserved after Rodón fell apart in the third frame.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2026
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Chelsea’s squad demographic falls somewhere in between but is probably closer to the former than the latter, and a football legend with his resume should not encounter the authority problems faced by owner BlueCo’s previous hires.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
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The thesis of Brady’s commencement, though, was battling through adversity and never quitting, and the best way for Brady to tell his motivational message was by telling the story of his Super Bowl LI comeback against the Atlanta Falcons.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
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From New York University commencement ceremonies to emotional social media tributes, stars including Reese Witherspoon, Christy Turlington and Kate Hudson are sharing proud moments as their children graduate.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
Verb
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In an interview with People magazine published Wednesday, May 13, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos reflected on authorities' progress in the high-profile search operation, which commenced in early February after Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her home in Arizona.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
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Directed by Robert Kun and produced by Salem Entertainment, the film is scheduled to commence principal photography in July and is targeting a worldwide release in the second quarter of 2027.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The onset of hostilities was enough to persuade around a hundred and eighty Democrats to support the measure.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Speculator positions flipped from net short to net long around the onset of the Iran War.—
SJ Guest Editorial,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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