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
Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026
The big movie kicking off next summer during the first full weekend of May?
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
In 2024, Gano injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff of a 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 2.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Verb
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in style to kick off the 2022 Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands.
—Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026
The big movie kicking off next summer during the first full weekend of May?
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
Unlike departing Keelan Marion, Vaughn hasn’t been used as a returner, beyond one kickoff for 15 yards last season.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
In 2024, Gano injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff of a 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 2.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
Verb
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Transportation Security Administration Officers began receiving their paychecks, which were not funded during an ongoing partial government shutdown.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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In assessing a life prison term for DeAujalae Evans, the jury selected the most severe penalty for intoxication manslaughter causing the death of a peace officer, the offense to which Evan pleaded guilty as the jury began to hear evidence in the case of the death of Sgt.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 30,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Investigators would spend weeks building their case, combing through nearly 7,000 texts exchanged over the three months before Harold died.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Cormorants that tried to clean each other with their beaks died after ingesting the viscous muck.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Without spoiling too much, Kane and Palk get to bond over their Kansas City roots in the beginning of the show.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
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The geologist Charles Lyell proposed that the very ground beneath mankind’s feet had been reshaped countless times before the beginning of human history and was even now in a state of flux.—
Kathryn Hughes,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That decade started with the 1973 oil embargo by Arab countries who were members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, and ended with the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which many attribute to helping end Jimmy Carter's presidency.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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Milwaukee’s attention on Brown and Tatum created several wide-open inside looks for Queta, who started 5-for-6 and drew two shooting fouls during a 13-point frame.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That’s led to a generation of kids being treated as Big Tech guinea pigs and falling student achievement scores.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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The follow-up Saturday just fell short of also being special.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Grasso will be on hand for U-M's spring commencement May 2, when former Fab Five basketball star Jalen Rose will be the speaker.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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Los Angeles Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel will deliver the keynote address at USC’s 143rd commencement ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in May, university officials announced on Monday.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trade with China commenced in 1553.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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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
Noun
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Frankenburg has seen commercial conversations with Gulf states speed up since the onset of the Iran war, CEO Kusti Salm told CNBC.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
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Roughly 90% of these tumors are diagnosed in patients under 20 years old, often around the onset of puberty, making Tamura an outlier.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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