leadoff

1 of 2

noun

lead·​off ˈlēd-ˌȯf 

1

: a beginning or leading action

2

: one that leads off

leadoff adjective

lead off

2 of 2

verb

ˈlēd- 

led off; leading off; leads off

intransitive verb

: begin

also : to come on or perform first

transitive verb

1

: to make a start on : open

2

: to bat first for a baseball team in (an inning)

Synonyms

Verb

• begin
• commence
• embark (on or upon)
• enter (into or upon)
• fall (to)
• get off
• kick off
• launch
• open
• start
• strike (into)

Examples of leadoff in a Sentence

Verb

plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Anthony Volpe’s leadoff double in the ninth against Kimbrel set up Stanton’s game-tying hit. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 19 June 2024

LeMahieu, mostly batting ninth with Anthony Volpe in the leadoff spot, has hit .188/.304/.188 with zero extra-base hits, four RBI, eight walks and 13 strikeouts over 15 games since coming off the injured list. —Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2024

Verb

Henderson led off with a 109.1-mph grounder that deflected off of second baseman Gleyber Torres’ glove, and O’Hearn drove him in with a two-out RBI double two batters later. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 19 June 2024

Ohtani’s homer off of Austin Gomber leading off the sixth was his 20th of the season and landed in the stand of evergreens beyond the center field fence, traveling 476 feet, the longest home run in the majors this season. —Dennis Georgatos, Orange County Register, 18 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1806, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

leadoff

noun

lead·​off ˈlēd-ˌȯf 

1

: a beginning action

2

: one that begins something

leadoff adjective