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 challenge usually kicks off in mid-January, about a week after the students come back from winter break.
—
Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Most pitches will be installed in May, weeks before the start of the tournament, which kicks off June 11.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
He's got the stadium tour that kicks off in April in Las Vegas.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
The trial, which kicks off this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court, is the first time major social media companies will argue their case before a jury.
—CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Sacramento The state capital kicks off the route at its northern end with farm-to-fork restaurants and world-class museums.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
Besides all of this, the January crunch stems from the Wayback machine, to the coaches seeking a way to corral their entire roster on campus long before the first game kicks off.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
The country star’s With Heaven On Tour run kicks off March 7 and features support from Kings of Leon, Alabama Shakes, Ben Howard, MJ Lenderman, Dijon, and more.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
Production kicks off later this month.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Most pitches will be installed in May, weeks before the start of the tournament, which kicks off June 11.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
He's got the stadium tour that kicks off in April in Las Vegas.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
The trial, which kicks off this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court, is the first time major social media companies will argue their case before a jury.
—CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Sacramento The state capital kicks off the route at its northern end with farm-to-fork restaurants and world-class museums.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
Besides all of this, the January crunch stems from the Wayback machine, to the coaches seeking a way to corral their entire roster on campus long before the first game kicks off.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
The country star’s With Heaven On Tour run kicks off March 7 and features support from Kings of Leon, Alabama Shakes, Ben Howard, MJ Lenderman, Dijon, and more.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
Production kicks off later this month.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicks off
Verb
-
Training at Kempo Goju dojos typically begins around age 5, but all ages are accepted.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Fat Tuesday is a day of feasting on rich foods before the fasting period of Lent begins.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Yoda character always dies, which is really what Elliott is, and then becomes, in some strange way, more powerful after their death.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Football is the framing device for this romantic fantasy about LA Rams quarterback Joe Pendleton, who wins the starting job, then dies in a traffic accident while biking home (thanks to angelic error).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hypothermia is a condition in which the body’s core temperature falls below 95 degrees.—
William Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Cleaning your oven, however, is something that falls within the former category.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Martha Stewart,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
An outspoken state senator is scheduled to make remarks Sunday at the International Servant Leaders Museum in Morton Grove, coming as Black History Month commences.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Dinner commences in a cool and calm underground lounge before moving upstairs to another intimate locale.—
Wendy Altschuler,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Their segment starts at one true but basic idea — teenagers today are too reliant on cell phones — and never goes past it.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
10 Feb. 2026
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Known as the Raffles x Christofle Bespoke Dining Experience, this private evening starts with a stay for two in the hotel’s 2,200-square-foot Presidential Suite and showcases a meal curated by Raffles culinary director Jim Reuteman.—
Laurie Brookins,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After Nora and Agnes’ mother passes away, Gustav returns to Oslo (and the gorgeous family house that has played home to some of their biggest tragedies) and tries to reestablish himself in his family’s lives.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
28 Oct. 2025
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That's very different from a co-signer, who is equally responsible for any balance, even after the primary cardholder passes away.—
Steve Hruby,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Every soldier Harry would have saved on a transport during the war perishes too.—
Margaret Heidenry,
Vanity Fair,
24 Dec. 2025
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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
-
Quarks crammed in tight can roam about freely, but try to separate them and the glue kicks in with a vengeance.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The film falters, however, once something resembling an actual plot kicks in.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicks%20off. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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