as in begins
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement
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Recent Examples of leads off
Alex Bregman #2 of the Boston Red Sox leads off second base during the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 14, 2025 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
—
Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Jarren Duran, who typically leads off and who hasn’t batted lower than sixth in the order all season, will bat eighth.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Jarren Duran, who typically leads off and who hasn’t batted lower than sixth in the order all season, will bat eighth.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leads off
Verb
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The hunt begins But the shooter wasn’t in the crowd.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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But if that friend begins to mirror some user’s darkest thoughts, the results can be devastating.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Of course, things will continue to change as non-conference play mostly wraps up and the conference slate commences in earnest in the next couple of weeks.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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There’s now just one last day of preseason games before the NFL commences its regular season.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Admission to AmericaFest starts at $50 as well, but includes a $300 VIP option.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
20 Sep. 2025
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The blood-pumping thriller starts with a man and his young son arriving at a rave in the Moroccan outback looking for their daughter/sister.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At the bottom is a narrow region called the bladder neck, which opens into the urethra – the tube that carries urine out of the body.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
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It’s presented in a treasure chest with smoke protruding as the chest opens, slowly displaying the cocktail itself as the smoke billows into the patron’s face, preparing their nostrils for the smokey aroma ahead.—
Andrew Watman,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leads off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leads%20off. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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