1
as in begins
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 dies
slang
to stop living
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kicks off
The Kinn Studio x Prince Tennis partnership kicks off with the now-available French Open drop.
—
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Kansas City’s first World Cup match kicks off June 16, 2026, and the city will host six games in total.
—Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Five soccer matches are expected to be played in the capital city when the global tournament kicks off in July.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
The scene kicks off the start of their business relationship.
—Molly Lambert, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
The second and final weekend kicks off on Friday, April 17.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Mexico kicks off the whole World Cup tournament on June 11.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The trailer launch kicks off an exciting stretch for Rick and Morty fans.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
The South American powerhouse dominated the stat sheet as both teams continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off in June.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Kansas City’s first World Cup match kicks off June 16, 2026, and the city will host six games in total.
—Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Five soccer matches are expected to be played in the capital city when the global tournament kicks off in July.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
The scene kicks off the start of their business relationship.
—Molly Lambert, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
The second and final weekend kicks off on Friday, April 17.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Mexico kicks off the whole World Cup tournament on June 11.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The trailer launch kicks off an exciting stretch for Rick and Morty fans.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
The South American powerhouse dominated the stat sheet as both teams continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off in June.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicks off
Verb
-
His involvement begins and ends with his coverage.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Goldschmied begins to collaborate with Gap as a consultant—a relationship that would continue until 2000.—
Maria Cristina Pavarini,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Own a $1 million condo and your spouse dies?—
Greg Raiff,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
-
If every truth that creates legal complexity dies on contact, people stop raising anything that might trigger those functions at all.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
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
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And that’s why—but that doesn’t make sense because the money falls from the ceiling.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
There are still a couple of questions to be answered though even as construction commences on the 67,500-capacity facility, which will be next to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and about 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of downtown Cleveland.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Falling back to the pack and seven points shy of San Jose, which won 4-1 at BMO Stadium on Sunday, LAFC has seen its recent MLS stumbles coincide with advancing to a two-leg CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal, which commences Wednesday at BMO Stadium and ends May 6 in Toluca, Mexico.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When wildfire smoke rolls in, the rush to buy a hepa air purifier starts within hours.—
Ryan Brennan
May 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
-
The virus starts with flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, vomiting/diarrhea and loss of appetite.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Also, after your parent passes away, the account would legally be yours.—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
-
Most Social Security payments fund retirement and related benefits, providing monthly income to eligible workers and certain family members, as well as survivor benefits for families after a worker passes away.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every soldier Harry would have saved on a transport during the war perishes too.—
Margaret Heidenry,
Vanity Fair,
24 Dec. 2025
-
Factory ships deplete fisheries in a matter of years and an inordinate amount of sea life also perishes in their nets.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
That's when the cool quotient kicks in.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
-
There are currently four vacant seats on the court, but they cannot be filled, because the government has retained a veto until the new law kicks in, after the elections.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicks%20off. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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